Protecting the Cape’s high-value wetlands and native vegetation

Invasive pests and weeds are putting increasing pressure on Cape York Peninsula’s wetlands, waterways and native vegetation, threatening ecological health and cultural values.

Our Cape York Wetlands and Native Vegetation Resilience project brings together land managers, Traditional Owners, Indigenous ranger groups and partners to deliver coordinated, landscape-scale control of priority threats. By June 2028, this work will improve the condition of 10,000 hectares of wetlands and 10,000 hectares of native vegetation.

Priority threat: Gamba grass

Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) is one of Cape York’s most invasive weeds. It rapidly outcompetes native vegetation, forming dense tussocks and has the potential to drive late-season fires due to extremely high fuel loads. This poses significant risks to biodiversity, communities and property.

Native to tropical Africa, gamba grass was introduced to the Northern Territory in 1931 for pasture trials and later to Queensland in 1942, with large-scale planting beginning in the 1980s.

Now listed as a Weed of National Significance, gamba grass spreads by seed via wind and water, as well as through mud on vehicles and machinery. It has profound impacts on the nutrient and water availability in the soil and leads to reduced tree cover.

How to ID gamba grass

• Gamba grass has a V-shaped fluffy seed head. 

• Its thick stems are covered in fine, soft white hair.

• Gamba stands tall amongst other native grasses and forms dense tussocks. 

• It grows up to four metres tall, remaining upright and green when native grasses dry out and collapse.

Report suspected gamba grass detections to your local council or Biosecurity Queensland.

Gamba Grass Taskforce

Next up for the project, Cape York NRM will be supporting the Cooktown Gamba Grass Taskforce during its annual week of coordinated action. Led by Cook Shire Council, the taskforce brings together local government, Indigenous rangers, Biosecurity Queensland and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to survey and treat infestations in and around the Cooktown area in late April and early May.

For more information on the Cape York Wetlands and Native Vegetation Resilience project, visit: https://www.capeyorknrm.com.au/what-we-do

This project is funded by Queensland Government’s Natural Resource Management Expansion Program.

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