Ban gamba grass, the 'green bulldozer', across Northern Australia
18 Jan 2008
WWF today welcomed the banning of gamba grass from sale in Western Australia and has called on the Northern Territory and Queensland governments to follow suit.
"Gamba grass is called the 'green bulldozer' of Northern Australia because it can have the same effect as land clearing," said WWF-Australia's Northern Landscapes Manager Dr Stuart Blanch.
Gamba grass is a highly invasive weed from Africa that is on track to take over tens of millions of hectares of tropical savannas. Plants grow to 4 metres high and form very dense stands. The high fuel loads cause massive wildfires that cook native flora and fauna.
"The Northern Territory and Queensland governments must also ban gamba grass in order to support landholders struggling to stop this incredibly destructive weed spreading," said Dr Blanch.
"Gamba grass is one of many high risk weeds that must be subject to much stronger regulation and pro-active management action," he said.
"The jury is in on gamba – it's one of Australia most devastating weeds. The Western Australian Government banned it because they saw how the weed was destroying savannas in the Northern Territory."
According to WWF-Australia's weed expert Nicola Thomson, the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management has identified around 4000 plants that can be legally traded in Australia, which may well form the next generation of serious weeds.
"Action now to limit trade in the most devastating species, such as gamba grass, can prevent this," said Ms Thomson.
WWF believes all governments should move quickly to assess and control potentially invasive plants, for example, the Commonwealth must ensure gamba grass is speedily assessed for recognition as a key threatening process under the national Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
More information
Dr Stuart Blanch, Northern Landscapes Manager, Darwin
0427 957 868
Nicola Thomson, Policy Officer Invasive Plants
0406 384 288
