Advice to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

Advice to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) on Amendment to the list of Threatened Species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)

1. Reason for Conservation Assessment by the Committee This advice follows assessment of new information on: Eucalyptus canobolensis (Silver-Leaf Candlebark)

2. Summary of Species Details Taxonomy Conventionally accepted as Eucalyptus canobolensis (CHAH, 2009). State Listing Status Listed as vulnerable under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Description Species is a spreading tree up to 10 m tall. The bark is smooth to the base of the tree trunk, shedding in ribbons. Adult leaves are lance-shaped, dull green or grey-green coloured. Buds are egg- shaped and held in clusters of 3, and flowers are white (Benson and McDougall, 1998; DECC, 2005; CPBR, 2006). Distribution Species is restricted to the higher altitudes of Mount Canobolas, south-west of Orange on the NSW Central Tablelands

dominating the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area (Hunter, 1998; DECC, 2005).

Relevant Silver-Leaf Candlebark is restricted to the higher altitudes of Biology/Ecology Mount Canobolas, south-west of Orange on the NSW Central Tablelands. It is predominately found between 1100 and 1300 m Above Sea Level, but can occur down to 1000 m and above 1300 m (Hunter, 1998; DECC, 2005). The flowering period is January to March. Seed is dispersed locally by wind or gravity and there is no dormancy mechanism (DECC, 2005). It has been observed that apparent juveniles of Silver-Leaf Candlebark appear to have regenerated more than once from previous fire events and have developed a small but noticeable lignotuber (DECC, 2005). Threats Past Pinus radiata (Radiata Pine) plantations have caused considerable reduction in the distribution of this species (NSW SC, 2004) Present Known threats include Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) infestations which impede regeneration, infrastructure development, invasion of Radiata Pine seedlings from adjacent State Forests, and forestry operations (TSSC, 2008).

Eucalyptus canobolensis Listing Advice — Page 1 of 4

Future Potential threats include fire management strategies which may limit recruitment and cause plant death, and global warming and associated climate change resulting in a contraction to higher altitudes (DECC, 2005; TSSC 2008)

3. Public Consultation The information used in this assessment was made available for public exhibition and comment for 30 business days. No comments were received.

4. How judged by the Committee in relation to the EPBC Act criteria and Regulations Criterion 1: Not eligible It has undergone, is suspected to have undergone or is likely to undergo in the immediate future a very severe, severe or substantial reduction in numbers Criterion element Evidence Reduction in numbers No data.

Criterion 2: Eligible for listing as endangered Its geographic distribution is precarious for the survival of the species and is very restricted, restricted or limited Criterion element Evidence Geographic distribution Restricted – the extent of occurrence is unknown, the area of 2 AND occupancy is 17 km (NSW SC, 2004).

Geographic distribution Yes – known to occur in only a single location within the precarious Mount Canobolas State Recreation Area (Hunter, 1998; DECC, 2005) and continued decline is likely due to ongoing threats of Blackberry infestations, infrastructure development, invasion by Radiata Pine seedlings and forestry operations (TSSC, 2008).

Criterion 3: Not eligible The estimated total number of mature individuals is limited to a particular degree; and either (a) evidence suggests that the number will continue to decline at a particular rate; or (b) the number is likely to continue to decline and its geographic distribution is precarious for its survival Criterion element Evidence Total no. of mature Not limited – population size of this species, with mixed aged individuals stands comprising seedlings, juveniles and adults, is estimated to be over 60 000 individuals (Hunter, 1998; DECC, 2005). AND However this was estimated from the extrapolation of population counts from two 25 m x 25 m quadrats and therefore potentially contains significant error (NSW SC, 2004). NSW SC (2004) therefore estimates the population size to be >10 000

mature individuals. Continued rate of decline No data OR Total no. of mature Not limited – see above. individuals AND Continued decline likely Yes – see Criterion 2. AND Geographic distribution Yes – see Criterion 2. precarious

Criterion 4: Not eligible The estimated total number of mature individuals is extremely low, very low or low Criterion element Evidence Total no. of mature Not low – see criterion 3. individuals

Criterion 5: Not eligible Probability of extinction in the wild that is at least (a) 50% in the immediate future; or (b) 20% in the near future; or (c) 10% in the medium-term future

Criterion element Evidence Probability of extinction No data. in the wild

5. Recommendations (i) The Committee recommends that the list referred to in section 178 of the EPBC Act be amended by transferring from the vulnerable category to the endangered category: Eucalyptus canobolensis

Associate Professor Robert J.S. Beeton AM FEIANZ Chair Threatened Species Scientific Committee

6. References cited in the advice

Benson D and McDougall L (1998). Ecology of Sydney plant species: Part 6 Dicotyledon family Myrtaceae. Cunninghamia, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 809-987.

Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research (CPBR) (2006). EUCLID Eucalypts of Australia, Third Edition, DVD, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood. Council Heads of Australian Herbaria (CHAH) (2009). Australian Plant Census. Available on the Internet at: http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apclist

Department of Environment and Climate Change New South Wales (DECC) (2005). Eucalyptus canobolensis – Profile. Available on the Internet at: http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10290

Hill KD and Johnson LAS (1991). Systematic studies-3. New taxa in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), Telopea, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 223-267.

Hunter J (1998). Eucalyptus canobolensis (Myrtaceae), a new combination for a former subspecies of Eucalyptus rubida, Telopea, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 157-158.

New South Wales Scientific Committee (NSW SC) (2004). Assessment of recommendation to remove Eucalyptus rubida subsp. canobolensis L. Johnson & K. Hill from the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Report to the NSW Scientific Committee. Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) (2008). Approved Conservation Advice for Eucalyptus canobolensis. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/64896- conservation-advice.pdf