In an effort to acclimate to my new home here in Tucson, AZ, I joined the Sky Island Alliance (http://www.skyislandalliance.org/) for a work day in the beautiful Sabino Canyon to pull out Bufflegrass and Fountain grass. This was part of a wider reaching project organized by the Southern Arizona Bufflegrass Coordination Center, (http://www.buffelgrass.org/SABCC). The SABCC sponsors an annual day to get as many groups and individuals erradicating this invasive grass as possible. It not only pushes back the grass but also raises awareness of the porblem.
Bufflegrass and fountain grass are invasive grasses that convert the fire resistant desert to a flammable grassland. The grass fills the natural gaps between cactus and desert shrubs and trees and allows fire to spread rapidly. What makes this worse is that the grass, being adapted to fire, responds rapidly and fills in even more space making it harder and harder for the native species to recolonize or recover. This also changes the water ecology of the areas as well as endangering wildlife and human property.
This was a fun group of people to work with and I had a great time learning more about the local plants and wildlife. Thanks Sky Island Alliance!
Bufflegrass and fountain grass are invasive grasses that convert the fire resistant desert to a flammable grassland. The grass fills the natural gaps between cactus and desert shrubs and trees and allows fire to spread rapidly. What makes this worse is that the grass, being adapted to fire, responds rapidly and fills in even more space making it harder and harder for the native species to recolonize or recover. This also changes the water ecology of the areas as well as endangering wildlife and human property.
This was a fun group of people to work with and I had a great time learning more about the local plants and wildlife. Thanks Sky Island Alliance!