Open letter penned to save Litchfield National Park from Gamba Grass ‘catastrophe’

A ‘green bulldozer’ is threatening the Top End’s ‘jewel in the crown’ national park – with an open letter calling on more to be done to stop it. Find out more.

A gamba grass fire. Picture: Sam Setterfield

An open letter is calling for a funding increase to stop a “green bulldozer” from destroying one of the Top End’s premier national parks – which has already infested one third of the park.

Gamba Grass Roots have penned an open letter to the Northern Territory government calling on a funding increase to stop a “gamba catastrophe” at Litchfield National Park.

The letter calls for the government to implement a full gamba management plan implemented by Charles Darwin University scientists in 2023.

The proposed enlarged gamba grass eradication zone in Litchfield National Park. Picture: Rossiter-Rachor

The three tenets of the plan include: increasing the gamba grass eradication zone in the park from 10,525ha to 74,331ha; implementation of a $1.3 million five year gamba eradication planned; and adopting annual aerial surveys to identify and control new infestations of the grass.

The aerial surveys would follow on from the eradication program and cost $111,000, the letter states.

Gamba Grass in the Top End. Picture: Gamba Grass Roots

“Yet Litchfield is heading towards “an endpoint of ecosystem collapse” due to repeated high-intensity wildfires fuelled by gamba grass – unless immediate and substantial action is taken,” the letter said.

Invasive Species Council conservation and biosecurity analyst Lyall Grieve said “gamba is recognised as one of the worst invasive weeds that destroy habitat, and contribute to the extinctions we are facing”.

Invasive Species Council conservation and biosecurity analyst Lyall Grieve. Picture: Invasive Species Council

It was first detected in the park in 2009, he said, with a 2014 weed mapping identifying it as an “imminent threat” to Litchfield.

“Gamba grass is spreading into the park, and is dubbed the ‘green bulldozer’ by people in the know. It has the same outcome, just moves a little slower. Already, a third of Litchfield is infested. The grass grows much quicker than native plants, taking over the landscape. Animals no longer have habitat or food that they need,” he said.

Gamba causes large fires – hotter and more frequent than usual – Mr Grieves said, which contribute to a loss of biodiversity in the park.

Mr Grieve said the government offering free herbicides and equipment to landowners looking to control the grass was a step in the right direction, however attention also needed to be on Litchfield National Park.

Northern Territory parks and wildlife minister Marie-Clare Boothby. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“With a relatively small investment, we can protect the park and push back the green bulldozer,” he said.

Northern Territory parks and wildlife minister Marie-Clare Boothby said “gamba continues to be out of control despite Labor’s endless promises over the past 8 years”.

In May, the Labor government committed $1m to fighting invasive grasses, with $250,000 set to be invested annually to manage the grass in Litchfield.

Ms Boothby said “deliberate portfolio changes” which brought parks, wildlife, and tourism into the one ministry and agency are helping in the gamba fight.

“This means the CLP government can deliver on its commitment to tackle Gamba grass impacting our tourism assets at Litchfield National Park as a priority,” she said.

“It’s (gamba grass) hurting our environment, tourism assets, and putting property at risk.”