THREATENED SPECIES SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 The Minister approved this conservation advice and included this species in the Critically Endangered category, effective from 15/02/2018 Conservation Advice Grevillea thelemanniana spider net grevillea Summary of assessment Conservation status Grevillea thelemanniana has been found to be eligible for listing in the Critically Endangered category, as outlined in the attached assessment. Reason for conservation assessment by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee This advice follows assessment of information provided by Western Australia as part of the Common Assessment Method process, to systematically review species that are inconsistently listed under the EPBC Act and relevant state/territory legislation or lists. More information on the Common Assessment Method is available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/cam The information in this assessment has been compiled by the relevant state/territory government. In adopting this assessment under the EPBC Act, this document forms the Approved Conservation Advice for this species as required under s266B of the EPBC Act. Public consultation Notice of the proposed amendment and a consultation document was made available for public comment for 31 business days between 23 February 2017 and 10 April 2017. Any comments received that were relevant to the survival of the species were considered by the Committee as part of the assessment process. Recovery plan A recovery plan for this species under the EPBC Act is not recommended, because the Approved Conservation Advice provides sufficient direction to implement priority actions and mitigate against key threats. The relevant state/territory may decide to develop a plan under its equivalent legislation. Recommendations (i) The Committee recommends that the list referred to in section 178 of the EPBC Act be amended by including in the list in the Critically Endangered category: Grevillea thelemanniana (ii) The Committee recommends that there not be a recovery plan for this species. Threatened Species Scientific Committee 6 June 2017 Grevillea thelemanniana (spider net grevillea) Conservation Advice Nomination summary (to be completed by nominator) Current conservation status Scientific name: Grevillea thelemanniana Common name: Spider net grevillea Family name: Proteaceae Fauna Flora Nomination for: Listing Change of criteria Delisting 1. Is the species currently on any conservation list, either in a State or Territory, Australia or Internationally? Provide details of the occurrence and listing status 2. Is it present in an Australian jurisdiction, but not for each jurisdiction in the following table listed? State / Territory in Date listed Listing category i.e. Listing criteria i.e. Jurisdiction which the species or assessed critically endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) occurs (or N/A) or ‘none’ International (IUCN Red List) National (EPBC Act) State / Territory 1. WA 03/11/2015 Critically Endangered A2ac, B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) & as G. thelemanniana B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) subsp. thelemanniana 2. WA Critically Endangered 29/9/2016 as G. thelemanniana A2ac, B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) subsp. thelemanniana 3. Consistent with Schedule 1, item 2.7 (h) and 2.8 of the Common Assessment Method Memorandum of Understanding, it is confirmed that: this assessment meets the standard of evidence required by the Common Yes No Assessment Method to document the eligibility of the species under the IUCN criteria; Comments: surveys of the species were adequate to inform the assessment; Yes No Comments: Targeted surveys were undertaken between August 2013 and January 2015 for all known locations of the species except within four of the private properties. For the four properties that were not surveyed, population sizes were estimated using aerial photographs and knowledge of habitat preferences, habitat condition and patterns of plant distribution. Area of available habitat is limited and hence species is deemed to be well surveyed. the conclusion of the assessment remains current and that any further information Yes No that may have become available since the assessment was completed supports or is consistent with the conclusion of the assessment. Page 2 of 10 Comments: The species was nominated and accepted for listing by the WA TSSC at the May 2015 meeting under the name G. thelemanniana subsp. thelemanniana due to an undescribed subspecies being accepted at the time. This other subspecies has now been raised to species level, and consequently G. thelemanniana has reverted to full species status which will be reflected by WA when the threatened species list is next reviewed. There is no further information that has come available since the assessment that would affect the assessment outcome, however, reinterpretation of the 'Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria' has changed the determination of AOO and its assessment under criterion B2. Nominated national conservation status: category and criteria Presumed extinct (EX) Critically endangered (CR) Endangered (EN) Vulnerable (VU) None (least concern) Data Deficient Conservation Dependent What are the IUCN Red List criteria that support the recommended A2ac, B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) conservation status category? Eligibility against the IUCN Red List criteria (A, B, C, D and E) Provide justification for the nominated conservation status; is the species eligible or ineligible for listing against the five criteria. For delisting, provide details for why the species no longer meets the requirements of the current conservation status. A. Population size reduction (A2) Clearing of 79% of the historical extent of occurrence has (evidence of decline) occurred since the date of original collections in the early 1900’s. Population reduction of this extent is estimated (using current average plant numbers per square metre of critical habitat) at 148,561 plants or 89%. Plant numbers will almost certainly reduce in the future, taking into account the proposal for industrial development in the Maddington, Kenwick Strategic Area (Tauss & Weston 2010). Meets criteria for Critically Endangered A2(ac) B. Geographic range (B1) EOO is 3.208 km2 (EOO and AOO, number of The AOO using 2kmx2km grids is 12km2, with the combined area of locations and evidence of the populations being 0.836km2. decline) (a) The habitat is severely fragmented with landholdings under a number of different tenures and purposes. Occurs in one location. (b) It is likely that there will be a continuing decline in the EOO, AOO, area, extent and/or quality of habitat, number of locations or subpopulations and the number of mature individuals. Meets criteria for Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) C. Small population size and Number of mature individuals extrapolated to be 18,121 (i.e. decline >10,000) (population size, Does not meet criteria distribution and evidence of decline) D. Very small or restricted Number of mature individuals extrapolated to be 18,121 (i.e. population >1,000) Page 3 of 10 (population size) Does not meet criteria E. Quantitative analysis No information to assess (statistical probability of extinction) Summary of assessment information EOO 3.208 km2 AOO 12 km2 (2kmx2km grid) Generation Unknown length Mapped area of subpopulations = 0.836 km2 No. locations 1 Severely fragmented Yes No Unknown No. subpopulations 5 No. mature individuals 18,121 (extrapolated) Percentage global population within Australia 100% Percentage population decline over 10 years or 3 generations 89% decline since early 1900s; high possibility of a further 10% decline in the next 10 years. Threats (detail how the species is being impacted) Threat Extent Impact (describe the threat and how it impacts on the species. Specify (give details of impact (what is the level of if the threat is past, current or potential) on whole species or threat to the specific subpopulations) conservation of the species) Recreation vehicles UWA and Private Moderate Property 4WD vehicles and motorbikes have been observed within a number of Lots and have damaged habitat. Past, present and future Vegetation clearing for and maintenance of boundary and Entire (except not a Moderate-Severe internal firebreaks current or future threat on DPaW land) Reduction of critical habitat and plant numbers Past, present and future Vegetation clearing for rural, urban, horticultural or industrial Entire in the past, Severe-Extreme uses currently only Private Property Fragmentation of the critical habitat has impacted on the species by reducing the habitat area and plant numbers 79% of the EOO has been cleared or disturbed and the Kenwick Strategic Area proposed industrial project is likely to involve further vegetation clearing and fragmentation. Past and future Vegetation clearing for and maintenance of road and rail Road and rail reserves Moderate-Severe reserves Reduction of critical habitat and plant numbers with ongoing degradation of potential habitat. Page 4 of 10 Past, present and future Stock grazing Entire in the past, Moderate currently only Private No grazing on the species has been observed/recorded; Property however, the negative impacts of keeping stock within intact vegetation are well documented. Illegal horse agistment has affected some of the species’ habitat. Past and present Weed invasion Entire Severe Dense weed patches have been observed. The species is lignotuberous and therefore can persist