BUFFEL GRASS MANAGEMENT STILL GAINING MEDIA ATTENTION
April 8, 2026
Last year the proposed listing of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) as a Weed of National Significance (WoNS) gained widespread attention in the media. As a consequence, the Australian Rangeland Society Council invited your views on the future of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) management across both pastoral and non-pastoral landscapes, with contributions included in a Special Issue of the Range Management Newsletter.
Twelve months later, the buffel grass WoNS nomination decision has not been released and the management of this species continues to be prominently discussed across Australia.
In the last few weeks, Buffel grass management has been the focus of two broadcast media stories on the ABC’s Landline program – on the 8th March and 15th March. Buffel’s management has also been the focus of several online articles including:
- Beef Central’s look at new research currently examining the economic value of buffel grass. This Northern Australia Beef Research Council (NABRC) study is “an economic analysis taking a big dive into the true value of buffel grass for the (pastoral) industry.” Read the Beef Central article here.
- An brief update on the Northern Territory’s Draft Buffel Grass Weed Management Plan and how buffel grass is to be managed and regulated in the NT has been published online by the NT Government. The recently released final Plan can be found here.
- A follow-up article discussing the NT’s plan and how it may affect land-holders was recently published by Beef Central. Read more here.
- A summary of Traditional Owners recent visit to Canberra to press the case for buffel grass to be recognised as a Weed of National Significance (WONs) was published on the Invasive Species Council’s website. See the article here.
- This visit to Canberra was also the basis of an article by the National Indigenous Times. Find the article here.
- Another recent Beef Central article discussing how Buffel grass has played a significant role on Undoolya Station, near Alice Springs.
The Federal decision on the buffel grass WoNS nomination is expected in the near future.