Indigenous Artists Draw Attention to Buffel Grass Crisis in Alice Springs

A recent art exhibition in Alice Springs has brought to light the troubling spread of buffel grass, an invasive weed wreaking havoc on native flora and Indigenous food sources. Local Western Arrernte artist Carita Coultard, alongside fellow artists, is using their creative talents to raise awareness about this environmental issue.

Art as a Medium of Awareness

Carita Coultard's watercolors vividly depict traditional bush tucker, foods that were once abundant in Central Australia but have become increasingly rare due to buffel grass. 'We don’t see them anymore, especially around in the Alice area,' Coultard lamented, reflecting on her childhood experiences gathering native foods like bush onion and bush potato near Hermannsburg, 130 kilometers from Alice Springs.

The exhibition, now open at the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens, features artworks crafted on paper made from pulped buffel grass, a process that Coultard described as both challenging and rewarding. 'We just boil it all in a pot and blend it,' she explained, emphasizing the hands-on effort involved in creating the materials.

Community Response to a Growing Threat

Buffel grass has proliferated following a wet winter, leading to heightened fire risks and the destruction of local ecosystems. Volunteers, such as Landcare member Steve Eldgridge, are taking action by participating in a weekly 'buffel bust' to clear the grass from areas along the Todd River, aiming to protect native trees from fire hazards.

In addition to community efforts, an economic assessment conducted by Charles Darwin University highlights the severity of the buffel grass problem, showing that its spread could incur costs significantly outweighing its benefits to the pastoral sector. NT Lands, Planning and Environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne has reached out to the federal government for support in managing this invasive species.

Future Prospects

The National Biosecurity Council is set to make a critical decision in December regarding whether buffel grass will be classified as a weed of national significance. As stakeholders await this ruling, the complexities surrounding buffel grass's impact on both agriculture and biodiversity are under careful consideration.

Source: www.abc.net.au