In Mparntwe Alice Springs, a gathering took place at the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens where concerned community members and experts gathered to talk about the impacts of buffel grass in the community.
One of the event co-ordinators, Alex Vaughan, who is the Policy Officer at Arid Lands Environment Centre, spoke on the issue, “It makes more intense wildfires and makes wildfires occur more frequently… it turns woodlands and big red river gum trees along riverways, it burns them down and sacred trees and it transforms those areas into grasslands.”
Buffel grass was introduced to the Northern Territory of Australia in the late 1800s as a way to provide grazing for cattle. The grass originated in Africa and was brought to Australia due to its ability to grow well in arid regions. Initially, buffel grass was seen as a solution to the problem of providing enough food for cattle in the Northern Territory, however, it quickly became clear that the introduction of buffel grass would have unintended consequences.
In recent years, there have been increasing calls for action to be taken to manage the spread of buffel grass in the Northern Territory. Efforts to control the spread of the grass have included herbicide treatment, controlled burns, and mechanical removal. However, these efforts have been limited by a lack of funding and political will. In the Northern Territory, the government does not classify buffel grass as a weed, therefore it does not receive funding for managing invasive species.
In 16 April 2012, the now deceased leader from the APY Lands in the north of south Australia, Kawaki Punch Thompson, had this to say on Buffel Grass, “”We used to have so many beautiful smelling plants and flowers. Today there are very few to be seen. Because of Buffel grass. This makes us feel sick inside, just the thought of it. We used to have so many different plants, and all the insects that went with them, such as butterflies and moths. Where are they all now?”
At the meeting, first Nations communities have also expressed their concerns about the negative impact of buffel grass on the environment and their cultural heritage. The introduction of the grass has transformed the landscape and threatens local ecosystems. In the words of Que Nakamarra Kenny, an Arrernte woman from Ntaria, it is crucial to consider the voices of First Nations communities and take action to manage this invasive species.