Reading of various threats to birds often posted on the chatline I wonder why Gamba Grass, “Andropogon gayanus”, has not been mentioned.
This clumping African grass grows to 4 m high and 2.5 m. in diameter (per clump). It kills off other species, either by smothering or through the hot fires it encourages ( Top End vegetation is fire-tolerant rather than fire-encouraging and most plants simply cannot survive gamba grass fires) Within a short period Gamba grass can transform savannah woodland and open forest to a monoculture. I have heard that in Queensland some graziers sow this species and then burn it to clear ‘scrub’.
We’ve just moved to Darwin River, 80 kms sw of Darwin, and am now living among the problem.
The NT Government has given up trying to eradicate this species and it is now out of control from Darwin to Katherine and into Kakadu National Park. Indeed, all woodland habitats across northern Australia are under threat, as are the fauna that reside within such habitats, species such as Gouldian Finch and Partridge Pigeon.
We’re eradicating Gamba Grass from our 20 acres – I’m cutting it with hand shears. Others burn, slash, or poison it. By hand removal I’m preserving what native plants are left in the hope that the woodland will once again become fire-tolerant and our resident Partridge Pigeon population will be safe. However, Gamba grass is rampant on neighbouring properties – it’s like living with a time bomb.
That graziers can produce up to 40% more beef on this grass meant a long delay in the NT Government declaring the species a weed. Some pastoralists I’ve spoken to are not happy that the grass has been outlawed and in light of the pressures on the industry I wouldn’t be surprised if many were still sowing the grass.
Amazing that so much time and energy has been spent on dealing with cane toads, while all the while this transformer species has been doing just that, transforming habitats across the Top End from diverse woodland and forest to monocultures. Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow PO Box 71, NT 0841 043 8650 835
PhD candidate, SCU Vice-chair, Wildlife Tourism Australia Nominated for the Condé Nast international ecotourism award, 2004 by the renowned American website, Earthfoot. Wildlife Adviser, BBC¹s Deadly 60¹
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