The Minister deleted this species from the vulnerable category, effective from 14 December 2013

Advice to the Minister for the Environment 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: cobarensis (Cobar greenhood orchid)

2. Summary of Species Details Conventionally accepted as Pterostylis cobarensis M.A.Clem. State Listing Status Listed as vulnerable under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. This species is not listed in South Australia or Queensland. Description A terrestrial, tuberous orchid with narrow-elliptic leaves and 3–8 flowers which are transparent with brown and green markings (DECC, 2008). Distribution This species occurs from central-eastern South Australia, north- east to the Darling Downs of Queensland and south to the

central-west tablelands of New South Wales (CPBR, 2010; DECC, 2008). Records are chiefly from the Nyngan-Cobar- Bourke area of New South Wales (DECC, 2008). Recorded localities include Narrabri, Nyngan, Cobar, Nymagee, Mt Gundabooka, Mt Grenfell and Mutawintji National Park (DECC, 2008), however, this list is not exhaustive. Relevant Inhabits eucalypt woodland, open mallee, or Callitris shrubland Biology/Ecology on low stony ridges and slopes with skeletal sandy-loam soils. Associated species include Eucalyptus morrisii, E. viridis, E. intertexta, E. vicina, Callitris glaucophylla, Geijera parviflora, Casuarina cristata, Acacia doratoxylon, Senna spp and Eremophila spp (DECC, 2008). As this species is an orchid, die back to tubers after seed release. Flowering occurs in September–November (Harden, 1993). This species is drought tolerant and is often concentrated in areas where there is a lot of run-off (DECC, 2008). Threats Known Regional threat assessments in 2000–02 identified the following threats to this species: feral goats (Capra hircus); broad-scale vegetation clearing; grazing pressure (ANRA, 2007a); changed hydrology and salinity; and fragmentation (ANRA, 2007b). Potential Potential threats to the species include habitat degradation (granite ridge and rocky slope habitat are vulnerable to erosion caused by feral goats); and weed invasion (DECC, 2008).

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3. Public Consultation Notice of the proposed amendment was made available for public 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: 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

Not eligible

Criterion element Evidence Substantial reduction in No data numbers

Criterion 2: Its geographic distribution is precarious for the survival of the species and is very restricted, restricted or limited

Not eligible

Criterion element Evidence Geographic distribution Not Limited – This species has an area of occurrence of limited approximately 400 000 km2 (CPBR, 2010) and an unknown area of occupancy. Given the number of locations and the AND large range of this species, its geographic distribution is not limited. Geographic distribution Insufficient data – Known from at least 16 populations in New precarious South Wales (Ayers et al., 1996) and an unknown number of populations in South Australia and Queensland. As this species is an orchid, it is likely to exhibit natural population fluctuations dependent on seasonal and year-to-year weather conditions. Given a lack of data on population trends and impact of known threats, there are insufficient data to judge precariousness of this species distribution.

Criterion 3: 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

Not eligible

Criterion element Evidence Total no. of mature No data individuals AND Continued decline No data OR

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Total no. of mature No data individuals AND Continued decline likely No data AND Geographic distribution Insufficient data – See Criterion 2 precarious

Criterion 4: The estimated total number of mature individuals is extremely low, very low or low

Not eligible

Criterion element Evidence Total no. of mature No data individuals

Criterion 5: 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

Not eligible

Criterion element Evidence Probability of extinction in No data the wild

5. Recommendations Based on available information on this species’ population size and geographic distribution, including no evidence of decline, the Committee notes that this species does not meet any of the required criteria for listing in any category. (i) The Committee recommends that the list referred to in section 178 of the EPBC Act be amended by deleting from the list in the vulnerable category: Pterostylis cobarensis

Threatened Species Scientific Committee 2 December 2010

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References cited in the advice Australian Natural Resources Atlas (ANRA) (2007a). Biodiversity Assessment – Broken Hill Complex. Viewed: 1 June 2010 Available on the Internet at: http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/assessment/nsw/ibra-bhc-species-threats.html Australian Natural Resources Atlas (ANRA) (2007b). Biodiversity Assessment – New South Wales South Western Slopes. Viewed: 1 June 2010 Available on the Internet at: http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/assessment/vic/ibra-nss-species-threats.html Ayers D, Nash S and Baggett K (eds) (1996). Threatened Species of Western New South Wales. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Hurstville. Centre for Biodiversity Research (CPBR) (2010). Australia’s Virtual Herbarium. Viewed: 1 June 2010 Available on the Internet at: http://www.cpbr.gov.au/cgi-bin/avh.cgi Clements MA (1989). Catalogue of Australian . Australian Orchid Research 1: 121. Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) (2008). Pterostylis cobarensis – threatened species listing. New South Wales. Viewed: 1 June 2010 Available on the Internet at: http://threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10698 Harden GJ (ed.) (1993). Flora of New South Wales, vol. 4. University of NSW Press. Kensington, New South Wales.

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