Buffel Grass Grazing on National Parks Carnarvon National Park Palmerston Range Walk Collared Delma the National Park Experience

Magazine of National Parks Association of Queensland buffel grass grazing on national parks carnarvon national park palmerston range walk collared delma the national park experience Issue 2 April-May 2015 1 Welcome to the Contents April/May edition of Welcome to Protected 2 Protected Buffel grass 3 Parks into Paddocks 6 Michelle Prior, NPAQ President Carnarvon National Park 8 Protected symbolises both the evolution of NPAQ over its 85 year Tracks near the Palmerston Hwy 10 history, and the essence of its founding Collared Delma 12 principles. Brought into being on the The National Park Experience 13 15th April 1930 by two ‘idealists of What’s On 14 the obstinate kind’, Romeo Lahey and Arthur Groom, NPAQ sought to fill an Letter to the Editor 15 important gap - there being ‘no body of public opinion...organised to combat the influences which were operating Council against the best interests of National President Michelle Prior Parks’. Vice Presidents Tony O’Brien So inspired by nature’s beauty, NPAQ Athol Lester founding members wished to work Hon Secretary Debra Marwedel towards protecting it. Around this Asst Hon Secret Yvonne Parsons time, community organisations were Hon Treasurer Graham Riddell the primary drives for protected area Councillors Julie Hainsworth proposals. Geoff Lowes Peter Ogilvie Today, there is a plethora of Richard Proudfoot environmental, conservation Des Whybird volunteering, bushwalking, outdoor Mike Wilke activities, nature experiences and travel organisations. World Conventions, national and state Staff legislation, conservation science, and Paul Donatiu government departments staffed with Anna Tran dedicated professionals fulfil many of Jeannie Rice NPAQ early roles. 85 years down the track, NPAQ is Mission Statement as necessary today as it was at its The National Parks Association pro- inception. Influences that operate motes the preservation, expansion, ap- against the best interests of national propriate management and presentation parks remain. of National Parks in Queensland. NPAQ is proud to be the longest Contact Details running NPA in Australia, and one of Unit 10/36 Finchley Street, Milton the first conservation organisations in PO Box 1040, Milton QLD 4064 Queensland. Educating people to the ABN: 60 206 792 095 wonders of nature by experiencing Phone: (07) 3367 0878 the bush for themselves, remains as Web: www.npaq.org.au important as successfully lobbying for Email: [email protected] the creation and protection of national parks. Advertising enquiries Because of people such as yourself, [email protected] NPAQ has remained committed to the Cover - Part of the Amphitheatre, active pursuit of its founding principles. Carnarvon National Park (Paul Donatiu). Happy birthday NPAQ! Copyright © 2015 National Parks Association of Queensland 2 BUFFEL GRASS A two-edged sword Neil Douglas, NPAQ Member Like it or not, Buffel grass pastoral industry because it provides In Queensland, ecosystems that have affects many national parks good forage in areas of lower been badly affected by buffel grass in Queensland. This article precipitation (generally the 200– spread include poplar box, silver-leaved provides important background 1000mm per annum range), usually ironbark, mountain coolabah, brigalow information on this exotic producing at least twice the amount and gidgee woodlands. It is also species, its impact and methods of edible material and in a shorter invading some mulga and dry rainforest of control. timeframe after rain than native grasses. communities where conditions are In Central Australia, it has been planted favourable. Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) is a primarily for soil stabilisation and dust grass native to semi-arid areas of Africa, A major problem associated with buffel control. Buffel grass can remain the Middle East and southern Asia and grass is its interaction with fire. Its high dormant during long drought periods is now also naturalised in many parts of biomass (generally 2 – 3 times that then begin to regrow vigorously within Australia. of native grasses) is likely to increase a short time after about 25 mm or more the intensity, frequency and extent of Buffel grass appears to have been first of rain. It also has a deep root system fires. However, because of its deep introduced into Australia inadvertently in and can access underground moisture root system, buffel grass not only the 1870s via seeds trapped in saddles more readily than most native grasses. survives such fires but recovers rapidly. and other imported equipment used The grass is a prolific producer of burr- At the same time, there is a greater with animals. However, it really made like seeds which can be spread readily chance that woody vegetation such as its presence felt from 1910 when it was by wind, flowing water and animals into shrubs or small trees will be killed by first deliberately planted as a pasture areas well beyond where the grass was buffel-exacerbated fire than in native grass. It quickly found favour with sown originally. Unfortunately, these grassland free of this species. Studies graziers in many lower rainfall areas and characteristics also make buffel grass a have shown that the presence of the first sowing in Queensland was at serious environmental weed. If it were woody ground cover inhibits the spread Cloncurry in 1926. It continues to be not for its value to the pastoral industry, of buffel grass, particularly where the planted in some areas and is now found it would probably have been declared former comprises more than 30% of in all mainland states and territories with as such long ago (the South Australian ground cover, so that if this cover is the exception of Victoria. However, government made such a declaration killed in an intense fire an area will be partly because of its low frost tolerance, earlier this year). susceptible to an even higher degree it remains relatively rare in southern The problems of buffel grass in the of infestation. This positive feedback coastal areas apart from a belt between environment cycle makes buffel grass ever harder Adelaide and Port Augusta. Overall, it to eradicate after each successive fire is estimated that 25% of the continent is Given the right conditions, buffel grass event. “highly suitable” for buffel grass and at can grow aggressively, forming dense least a further 15% fairly suitable, based thickets and crowding out native The ready dispersibility of buffel grass on climate and soil types. The South vegetation. This may degrade not only seeds has made roads and railways Australian Buffel Grass Strategic Plan the floristic composition of an area but major instruments for carrying the 2012-17 takes the view that it could also affect mammal, reptile and bird grass into new areas. Long stretches become established over 60% of the populations. Many native birds will not of highways and railways in the mainland. eat buffel grass seeds, and if native north of South Australia, the south of grass seeds are not available they may the Northern Territory, and western Buffel grass found favour with the leave the infested area. Queensland are now lined with the 3 grass, in some cases large distances it rains. Slashing also reduces the can be considered, but it is obviously from where it had been introduced. intensity of fires. However, it may be very labour-intensive so is probably This can result in new infestations difficult to do slashing mechanically feasible only near significant population becoming established in areas of where there is a good scattering of centres where volunteer labour is on- conservation significance. native shrubs. In select situations hand. The method has been used to whipper-snipping under shrubs may be good effect in parts of the Alice Springs Methods for controlling and feasible if labour is available. Desert Park. eradicating buffel grass There are mixed views over whether Buffel grass control in various There is no one optimum method for short-term (pulse) grazing should be jurisdictions controlling buffel grass. Often more considered as a tool to assist buffel than one method in combination will South Australia’s Buffel Grass Strategic grass eradication. Butler and Fairfax produce the best results. In all cases, Plan 2012-17 advocates that entry of (2003) considered fire to be the worst cost and availability of resources, buffel grass into SA be excluded and agent in assisting buffel grass spread infestation size, and the ecosystem its movement prevented. However, in conservation areas and advocated affected, are all important in determining this has not yet occurred, no doubt periodic, intense grazing to prevent what measures can be taken, or because of the political difficulties seed formation and reduce fuel loads even whether it is feasible to attempt involved. The Plan divides the state prior to fire danger periods. However, control at all. In high conservation into 3 zones. It aims to manage Eyre et al. (2009) found that increased value areas, and in places where buffel infestation in the worst affected zone grazing in poplar box woodlands grass occurrence is only patchy, an (Zone 1 in the north-west), contain ultimately led to increased buffel grass attempt at eradication may be possible. its spread in Zone 2 (the north-east) cover, probably because of the greater Otherwise, the focus may need to be and attempt eradication from the soil disturbance. This is also the on control or attempting to prevent position taken in the South Australian further spread. strategic plan. William and Collins For small to modest areas, herbicide (2004) reported mixed results from the treatment is the single most effective destocking of Moorinya National Park; method of eradication, but it can be after 7 years there was an increase done only when the plant is actively in plant and animal diversity but also growing, i.e. a short time after a rainfall greater buffel grass infestation.

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