Buffel Grass

We’ve been dismayed at the amount of Buffel grass we’ve seen this holiday – from Norseman all the way to Pt. Hedland, and now down to Carnarvon.

Buffel grass is believed to have been accidentally introduced in the packing of imported camel saddles from Afghanistan in the 1860’s. Being drought resistant and also able to withstand heavy grazing, until quite recently it was deliberately spread throughout the dry inland areas for its value as a stock feed. Now many environmentalists put Buffel grass in the same category as European Carp and Cane Toad because of its negative environmental impacts.

Buffel grass responds vigorously to water, so grows especially strongly along river banks and roads (where it receives run-off), creating corridors for the spread of fire. Having a high nitrogen content, it burns very hot, further enabling the spread and intensity of fires and severely reducing the ability of native vegetation to recover.

It aggressively out-competes native grasses and other ground cover plants, creating a very foreign environment for our native birds, insects and animals – as though they don't have enough to contend with already! 
Rob