Eremophila Denticulata Subsp
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Interim Recovery Plan No. 352 Cumquat eremophila (Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata) Interim Recovery Plan 2015–2020 Department of Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia July 2015 Interim Recovery Plan for Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata List of Acronyms The following acronyms are used in this plan: BGPA Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority CALM Department of Conservation and Land Management CCWA Conservation Commission of Western Australia CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CR Critically Endangered DEC Department of Environment and Conservation DAA Department of Aboriginal Affairs DFES Department of Fire and Emergency Services DPaW Department of Parks and Wildlife (also shown as Parks and Wildlife) DRD Department of Regional Development DRF Declared Rare Flora EDTFCRT Esperance District Threatened Flora and Communities Recovery Team EN Endangered EPBC Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation FMG Fortescue Metals Group FMS Fire management strategy GLSC Goldfields Land and Sea Council IBRA Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia IRP Interim Recovery Plan IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature LGA Local Government Authority NRM Natural Resource Management PEC Priority Ecological Community PICA Public Information and Corporate Affairs SCB Species and Communities Branch TEC Threatened Ecological Community TFSC Threatened Flora Seed Centre UCL Unallocated Crown Land UNEP-WCMC United Nations Environment Program World Conservation Monitoring Centre VU Vulnerable WA Western Australia 2 Interim Recovery Plan for Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata Foreword Interim Recovery Plans (IRPs) are developed within the framework laid down in Department of Parks and Wildlife (Parks and Wildlife) Policy Statements Nos. 44 and 50 (CALM 1992; CALM 1994). Plans outline the recovery actions that are required to urgently address those threatening processes most affecting the ongoing survival of threatened flora or ecological communities, and begin the recovery process. Parks and Wildlife is committed to ensuring that threatened flora are conserved through the preparation and implementation of Recovery Plans (RPs) or IRPs, and by ensuring that conservation action commences as soon as possible and, in the case of Critically Endangered (CR) flora, always within one year of endorsement of that rank by the Minister. This updated plan replaces IRP No. 184 Cumquat Eremophila (Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata) (Fitzgerald et al. 2004). The plan will operate from July 2015 to June 2020 but will remain in force until withdrawn or replaced. It is intended that, if the taxon is still ranked as Endangered (EN) in Western Australia, this plan will be reviewed after five years and the need for further recovery actions assessed. This plan was given regional approval on 9 July 2015 and was approved by the Director of Science and Conservation on 27 July 2015. The provision of funds identified in this plan is dependent on budgetary and other constraints affecting Parks and Wildlife, as well as the need to address other priorities. Information in this plan was accurate at July 2015. Plan preparation: This plan was prepared by: Julie Waters Conservation Officer, Parks and Wildlife Esperance District, 92 Dempster Street, Esperance, WA 6450. Andrew Brown Threatened Flora Coordinator, Parks and Wildlife Species and Communities Branch, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983. Acknowledgments: The following people provided assistance and advice in the preparation of this plan: Mary Hoggart Esperance Wildflower Society Emma Massenbauer Flora Conservation Officer, Parks and Wildlife Esperance District Wayne Gill Acting Flora Conservation Officer / Land for Wildlife Officer, Parks and Wildlife Esperance District Sarah Barrett Flora Conservation Officer, Parks and Wildlife Albany District Stephen Butler District Nature Conservation Co-ordinator, Parks and Wildlife Esperance District Anne Cochrane Senior Research Scientist, Parks and Wildlife Threatened Flora Seed Centre, Science and Conservation Division Andrew Crawford Principal Technical Officer, Parks and Wildlife Science and Conservation Division Jessica Donaldson Technical Officer, Parks and Wildlife Species and Communities Branch Leonie Monks Research Scientist, Parks and Wildlife Science and Conservation Division Amanda Shade Assistant Curator (Nursery), Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority Thanks also to the staff of the Western Australian Herbarium for providing access to Herbarium databases and specimen information. Cover photograph by Emma Massenbauer. 3 Interim Recovery Plan for Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata Citation: is plan should be cited as: Department of Parks and Wildlife (2015) Cumquat Eremophila (Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata). Interim Recovery Plan 2015–2020. Interim Recovery Plan No. 352. Department of Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia. 4 Interim Recovery Plan for Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata Summary Scientific name: Eremophila denticulata subsp. Common name: Cumquat Eremophila trisulcata Flowering period: October−June Family: Scrophulariaceae DPaW district: Esperance DPaW region: South Coast NRM region: South Coast Shire: Esperance Recovery team: Esperance District Threatened IBRA region: Esperance Plains Flora and Communities Recovery IBRA subregion: Recherche Team (EDTFCRT) Distribution and habitat: Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata is found over a 20km geographic range near Mount Ragged, north-east of Esperance. Plants grow on powdery grey loams over limestone in tall Eucalyptus ovularis and E. fraseri subsp. fraseri woodland. Habitat critical to the survival of the species, and important populations: It is considered that all known habitat for wild populations is critical to the survival of Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata and that all wild populations are important populations. Habitat critical to the survival of E. denticulata subsp. trisulcata includes the area of occupancy of populations, areas of similar habitat surrounding and linking populations (these providing potential habitat for population expansion and for pollinators), additional occurrences of similar habitat that may contain undiscovered populations of the taxon or be suitable for future translocations, and the local catchment for the surface and/or groundwater that maintains the habitat of the taxon. Conservation status: Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata is specially protected under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and is ranked as Endangered (EN) in Western Australia under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 2001 criteria B1ab(iv,v)+2ab(iv,v) due to its extent of occurrence estimated to be less than 5,000 km2; populations being severely fragmented; their being a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals in some populations and its area of occupancy estimated to be less than 500km2. The taxon is listed as EN under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Threats: The main threats to Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata are changed fire regimes, road works, poor recruitment, vehicles, grazing, trampling, insecure tenure and weeds. Existing recovery actions: The following recovery actions have been or are currently being implemented and have been considered in the preparation of this plan: 1. 21,500 Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata seeds are stored in the Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC) at –20C. 2. The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA) have seven living plants. 3. Roadside markers have been installed at Populations 1 and 2. 4. Surveys carried out in 2013 found one new population and one new subpopulation. 5. Information on fire and disturbance response was obtained following chaining and prescribed fire. 5 Interim Recovery Plan for Eremophila denticulata subsp. trisulcata Plan objective: The objective of this plan is to abate identified threats and maintain or enhance in situ populations to ensure the long-term conservation of the subspecies in the wild. Recovery criteria Criteria for recovery success: The plan will be considered a success if one or more of the following take place. No important populations have been lost and the number of mature plants within those populations has remained within a 5% range or has increased by >5% over the term of the plan from 2,558 to 2,686 or more or New populations have been found, increasing the number of known populations from five to six or more over the term of the plan with no net loss of mature plants or The area of occupancy has increased by >5% over the term of the plan with no net loss of mature plants. Criteria for recovery failure: The plan will be considered a failure if one or more of the following take place. Important populations have been lost or The number of mature plants has decreased by >5% from 2,558 to 2,430 or less or The area of occupancy has decreased by >5% over the term of the plan with a loss of mature plants. Recovery actions 1. Coordinate recovery actions 9. Map habitat critical to the survival of Eremophila 2. Monitor populations denticulata subsp. trisulcata 3. Undertake surveys 10. Promote awareness 4. Collect and store seed and cutting material 11. Undertake feral animal control if required 5. Develop and implement a fire management strategy 12. Undertake weed control if required 6. Obtain biological and ecological information 13. Develop and implement a translocation proposal