The event was well attended and sparked a range of interesting questions from the floor. Prof Derek Anderson, Chairman of CPBR Board. The Powerpoint presentation given by Mark Lonsdale can be accessed from this web site. A summary of the main talk and panel presentations, prepared by Roger Beckmann , is set out below. While the benefits are already fairly well known, the risks necessarily remain rather unquantified.
Invasions are rare events.
But the damage from these comparatively rare events can nevertheless be severe. Even useful species can have unforeseen 'side-effects'. An example is Gamba grass in the Northern Territory. One of more than 400 species introduced to northern Australia, it has been a useful fodder grass because it produces a higher biomass than native grasses. Its perennial nature and increased biomass have changed local fire regimes.