When we talk about nature and conservation in Central Australia, we have to address one of the greatest threats to arid and sub-tropical environments nationally and globally in buffel grass invasion.
After it was intentionally planted at scale by governments across the continent for livestock grazing, buffel grass invasion is transforming biodiverse arid landscapes, covered in wildflowers, bush medicines, spinifex, mulga woodlands, and stands of river red gums, ghost gums and coolibahs into a fire promoting monoculture. Dozens of threatened species are at risk. Buffel grass accelerates the spread of fire through Country, impacting public safety, human health, tourism, wellbeing and livability, environments and cultures. Buffel grass thrives in arid and semi-arid regions, tolerating drought, fire, and a wide range of soil types, and is already present in the Victorian Mallee, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, Uluru Kata- Tjuta, Mpartnwe Alice Springs, the Pilbara and most of Australia’s Ten Deserts. Up to 68 percent of the continent may be at risk.
ALEC has led work on buffel grass recognition and management since at least 2002. Recognising the scale of the issue, we are focused on national coordination, preventing further spread, supporting on-ground management capability, as well as turbocharging research solutions to make a difference at the landscape scale. In our buffel grass campaign we have been ramping up pressure nationally, growing our impact from a regional focus to a national lens, working alongside researchers and partners.
Our Impacts over 2025/26:
- In March, a SA & NT delegation of Traditional Owners, custodians, government and environmental organisations headed to Canberra to advocate for Buffel Grass to be listed as a Weed of National Significance. Kat will dive a bit deeper into this a bit later, including meeting the Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt
- Also in March, ABC’s Landline aired a buffel grass special that ALEC participated in and helped coordinate, featuring ranger groups, Traditional Owners, community members, the Alice Springs Mayor, researchers and firies. It was a powerful demonstration of the problem which is affecting every mainland state and the NT.
- For the past 3.5 years, ALEC has been the sole conservation representative on the National Established Weeds Priority Steering Committee, a national committee addressing the greatest new weed threats across the continent, contributing to the ongoing buffel grass Weed of National Significance nomination process. This process is ongoing but currently delayed at the federal level.
- We have been strengthening our relationship with the Australian Conservation Council and Invasive Species Council who are both increasing their involvement in buffel advocacy . Growing the network of orgs involved is a significant moment for buffel advocacy nationally.
Going forward into 2026/27:
We are in the final stage of production and launch of our National Buffel Grass Report by the end of June. A concise advocacy report, outlining the national risks of buffel grass invasion, practical on-ground solutions in and opportunities for national coordination, research and impact.
- We continue to campaign at a federal level for buffel grass to be listed as a Weed of National Significance and a Key Threatening Process under the EPBC Act.
- Develop high-quality community testimonial projects, raising awareness of buffel grass impacts to communities outside of Central Australia including the voices of tourism operators, bird experts, ranger groups and health advocates. Engaging the tourism industry a key sector to make change on buffel;
- Bush trips, bush trips, bush trips, working with First Nation communities to combat this existential problem, grow our influence and boost on-ground work as well as strategic gaps that need filling.
- Hosting ACF and Adam Bandt on a buffel trip in the coming months, and supporting stronger collaboration with ACF as part of a coordinated national response.
- Partnering nationally to progress buffel grass weed declarations, including Victoria.