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Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

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  2. Environment
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  5. Threat abatement advices and action plans
  6. Invasive pasture grasses in northern Australia - gamba grass, para grass, olive hymenachne, perennial mission grass and annual mission grass - Introduction

Sidebar first - EN - Biodiversity

  • Threat abatement advices
    • Buffel grass
      • Threat abatement actions
      • Resources
    • Invasive pasture grasses
      • Annual mission grass
      • Gamba grass
      • Olive hymenachne
      • Para grass
      • Perennial mission grass

Invasive pasture grasses in northern Australia - gamba grass, para grass, olive hymenachne, perennial mission grass and annual mission grass - Introduction

THREAT ABATEMENT ADVICE FOR A KEY THREATENING PROCESS

This material has been developed based on the best available information at the time of development (September 2014).

To provide information updates please email: weeds@environment.gov.au

About this advice

In 2009 a key threatening process (KTP) was listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act): ‘Ecosystem degradation, habitat loss and species decline due to invasion of northern Australia by introduced gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus), para grass (Urochloa mutica), olive hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis), mission grass (Cenchrus polystachios syn. Pennisetum polystachion) and annual mission grass (Cenchrus pedicellatus syn. Pennisetum pedicellatum)’. A threat abatement plan was prepared for this key threatening process in 2012.

This threat abatement advice was prepared by the Department in consultation with key stakeholders to provide guidance at national, state and local levels on activities and research needed to abate the threat.

Download full advice

Invasive pasture grasses in northern Australia – gamba grass, para grass, olive hymenachne, perennial mission grass and annual mission grass (PDF - 558.36 KB)

Introduction

In 2009 a key threatening process (KTP) was listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act): ‘Ecosystem degradation, habitat loss and species decline due to invasion of northern Australia by introduced gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus), para grass (Urochloa mutica), olive hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis), mission grass (Cenchrus polystachios syn. Pennisetum polystachion) and annual mission grass (Cenchrus pedicellatus syn. Pennisetum pedicellatum)’. Gamba and the two mission grasses are weeds of terrestrial habitats while para grass and olive hymenachne have invaded wetlands. All five species are weeds of northern Australia.

These five invasive pasture grasses were imported into northern Australia between the 1880s and the 1980s. Unfortunately, without careful management they can easily escape from pastoral areas into bushland or wetlands and affect the structure and function of environmental assets, including threatened species and ecological communities. By increasing fuel loads, they are capable of causing intense fires which endanger human and animal lives and destroy native vegetation. They can also alter nutrient and water availability for native plants. As a result, invasion of these grasses has lead to ecosystem degradation, habitat loss and biodiversity decline.

The Threat abatement plan to reduce the impacts on northern Australia’s biodiversity by the five listed grasses was released in 2012 as a guiding document designed to minimise the adverse impacts of these five grasses on affected native species and ecological communities. Having a threat abatement plan encourages all relevant government agencies, landholders, industry and community groups to work together to prevent further damage to our environment.

As an extension to the plan, these web pages aim to bring together information to help prevent further damage by these invasive grasses. There are links to documents which provide ideas for practical on-ground abatement activities for local communities, natural resource management groups, landholders or other interested individuals. Also available are broader actions for government agencies, local councils, research organisations, industry bodies or non-government organisations that have been identified as important to minimising the impacts of these five grasses.

Status of the five invasive grasses under state and territory legislation

Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) is listed as a Weed of National Significance and a declared weed under Western Australian, Northern Territory and Queensland legislation.

Para grass (Urochloa mutica) is not a declared weed under any legislation in any jurisdiction.

Olive hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis) is a Weed of National Significance and a declared weed under legislation in all Australian jurisdictions.

Perennial mission grass (Cenchrus polystachios syn. Pennisetum polystachion) is a declared weed under Northern Territory and Western Australian legislation.

Annual mission grass (Cenchrus pedicellatus syn. Pennisetum pedicellatum) is not a declared weed under any legislation in any jurisdiction.

Table 1: Status of the five invasive grasses under state and territory legislation
  Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) Annual mission grass (Cenchrus pedicellatus) Perennial mission grass (Cenchrus polystachios) Olive hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis) Para grass (Urochloa mutica)

Western Australia Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007

Prohibited (s12)
Control category C2 Eradication

Permitted (s11)

Prohibited (s12)
Control category C1 Exclusion

Prohibited (s12)
Control category C1 Exclusion

Permitted (s11)

Northern Territory Weeds Management Act 2001

Class A
To be eradicated

Class B Growth and spread to be controlled

Not a declared weed

Class B Growth and spread to be controlled

Class B Growth and spread to be controlled

Not a declared weed

Queensland Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002

Class 2 Landholders must try to keep their land free of this weed and it is an offence to possess, sell or release without a permit

Not a declared weed

Not a declared weed

Class 2 Landholders must try to keep their land free of this weed and it is an offence to possess, sell or release without a permit

Not a declared weed

Status of the five invasive grasses under Commonwealth legislation

‘Ecosystem degradation, habitat loss and species decline due to invasion of northern Australia by introduced gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus), para grass (Urochloa mutica), olive hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis), mission grass (Pennisetum polystachion) and annual mission grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum)’ is listed as a key threatening process (KTP) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This KTP meets the criteria stated in section 188(4)(a) and section 188(4)(c) of the EPBC Act and is eligible to be listed as a KTP because:

  • it could cause the native species Cycas armstrongii (a cycad) to become eligible for listing as vulnerable under the EPBC Act
  • it could adversely affect at least four species that are listed as endangered under the EPBC Act, primarily through altered local fire regimes, degradation of habitat and reduction of food sources. The examples presented in the KTP listing advice are: Lucasium occultum (Diplodactylus occultus, yellow-snouted gecko), Erythrura gouldiae (Gouldian finch), Euploea alcathoe enastri (Gove crow butterfly) and Epthianura crocea tunneyi (yellow chat – Alligator Rivers).

The Threat abatement plan to reduce the impacts on northern Australia’s biodiversity by the five listed grasses was developed in 2012 to address this KTP. This plan provides guidance to minimise the adverse impacts of the five listed grasses on affected native species and ecological communities. The Australian Government environment minister must review the plan before December 2017.

Resources

PLANS AND GUIDES RELEVANT TO ALL SPECIES
(resources specific to gamba grass, para grass, hymenachne and mission grasses are available on the species pages
Title or description Author Date Details

The Australian Weeds Strategy – A national strategy for weed management in Australia

Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council

2007

A framework to establish consistent guidance and identify priorities for weed management across Australia

Commonwealth listing advice on invasion of northern Australia by gamba grass and other introduced grasses

Threatened Species Scientific Committee

2009

Advice to the Minister from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee

Threat abatement plan to reduce the impacts on northern Australia’s biodiversity by the five listed grasses

Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

2012

Priority actions to manage the five species of invasive grasses

Background: Threat abatement plan to reduce the impacts on northern Australia's biodiversity by the five listed grasses

Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

2012

Information on each of the five species of invasive grasses

Kakadu National Park management plan (2007–2014)

Director of National Parks

2007

The 6th Kakadu Management Plan is being finalised and will be released for public comment in December 2014.

GENERAL RESEARCH
Title or description Author Date Details

It was no accident: deliberate plant introductions by Australian government agencies during the 20th century

Cook GD and Dias L

2006

Turner Review no. 12, Australian Journal of Botany, vol. 54, pp. 601–625

Exotic grass invasion in the tropical savanna of northern Australia: ecosystem consequences

Rossiter N, Setterfield S, Douglas M, Hutley L and Cook G

2004

Sindel BM and Johnson SB (eds), Proceedings of the 14th Australian Weeds Conference, Wagga Wagga, NSW, pp. 168–171

How well are we currently dealing with contentious plants?

Friedel MH, Grice AC, Clarkson JR, Ferdinands K and Setterfield SA

2010

Zydenbos SM (ed), Proceedings of the 17th Australasian Weeds Conference, pp. 470–473, New Zealand Plant Protection Society, Christchurch, New Zealand

The role of legislation and policy in dealing with contentious plants

Clarkson JR, Grice AC, Friedel MH, Setterfield, SA and Ferdinands K

2010

Zydenbos SM (ed), Proceedings of the 17th Australasian Weeds Conference, pp. 474–7, New Zealand Plant Protection Society, Christchurch, New Zealand

GENERAL WEB RESOURCES
Title or description Author Date Details

INFFER (Investment Framework For Environmental Resources)

INFFER

 

Asset identification and prioritisation tool

Species of National Environmental Significance

Australian Government Department of the Environment

 

The Species of National Environmental Significance Database contains map summaries which provide general information on the distribution of species related to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Species covered by the database include threatened and migratory species.

Species Profile and Threats (SPRAT) Database

Australian Government Department of the Environment

 

Recovery plans adopted under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Threatened species and ecological communities – publications

Australian Government Department of the Environment

 

 

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Last updated: 10 October 2021

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