Buffel Grass 3D model
Friends of Mallee Conservation is pleased to share with you an interactive, three-dimensional model of Buffel Grass to help Victorians identify this devastating weed. You can access the model here. Buffel Grass is most obvious in the warmer months, particularly following summer rains. Now is the time to be on the lookout for this weed.
You can also listen to this segment from ABC Mildura Swan Hill about Buffel Grass
A screenshot from the 3D model of Buffel Grass.
Buffel Grass is an invasive weed that has spread across central and northern Australia. In Victoria, it occurs in small roadside infestations in Mildura and Swan Hill Rural City Council areas. However, if left untreated it has the potential to spread across northern Victoria.
Originally introduced for dust suppression and as a pasture grass, the weed now threatens the very communities that once welcomed it.
We know from interstate and overseas that Buffel Grass is a perfect storm of a weed. It has devastating impacts on land and biodiversity and negatively affects tourism, agriculture and community safety. Fires currently burning across the Northern Territory, like those threatening Alice Springs, are fueled by Buffel Grass. This weed promotes faster, hotter and more frequent bushfires. Invasive grasses including Buffel Grass were responsible for the fire that engulfed the island of Maui, Hawaii in August this year. That resulted in the loss of 97 lives.
If we can prevent Buffel Grass from establishing in Victoria we will make an immense difference to the environment and prevent the Buffel-fueled fires we are seeing elsewhere. This is a battle we can and must win.
Buffel Grass is described as a high-threat environmental weed in Victoria, but it is not yet listed as a noxious weed under Victorian legislation. I’ve written to the Victorian Ministers for Environment and for Agriculture letting them know how important it is to declare Buffel Grass as a state-prohibited noxious weed.
This would follow the lead of South Australia, where it was declared a weed in 2016, and nationally where threat abatement advice was issued in 2014 recommending all states declare Buffel Grass as a weed. In the Northern Territory, a technical working group is currently preparing recommendations to their Minister to manage the threat posed by Buffel Grass in that state. Victoria mustn’t be left behind in managing this threat.
Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) in the evening light. This is a nasty, nasty weed.
The 3D model was developed by scientific illustrator Rachel Klyve. It forms part of a Buffel Buster information pack distributed by Friends of Mallee Conservation to others in the community who are out and about on our roads and in our national parks. The pack includes information on the identification and control of Buffel Grass and how to report observations of the weed. You can download a copy here.
This project was supported by the Victorian Government through a Landcare Grant from the Mallee CMA.