This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on 3 July 2008 Approved conservation advice (s266B of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) Approved Conservation Advice for Angophora robur
This Conservation Advice has been developed based on the best available information at the time this conservation advice was approved.
Description Angophora robur, Family Myrtaceae, also known as Sandstone Rough-barked Apple, is a small straggly tree growing to 10 m tall. It has persistent rough grey bark on the trunk and branches. Leaves are opposite to one another along stems, and unusually large, up to 18 cm long and 7.5 cm wide. The petioles (leaf stalks) are absent or up to 1 mm long. Flowers are white or cream coloured. Fruits are large, up to 1.6 cm long and wide, and cup-shaped with longitudinal ribs (Johnson & Hill, 1990; DECC, 2005a; CPBR, 2006).
Conservation Status Angophora robur is listed as vulnerable. This species is eligible for listing as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act) as, prior to the commencement of the EPBC Act, it was listed as vulnerable under Schedule 1 of the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (Cwlth). Angophora robur is also listed as vulnerable under Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW).
Distribution and Habitat Angophora robur is locally frequent, but restricted to the sandstone belt running from north- west of Coffs Harbour, near Glenreagh, to the Coaldale district, north-west of Grafton, NSW. It is reserved in Banyabba and Sherwood Nature Reserves and Waihou Flora Reserve (Johnson & Hill, 1990; Sheringham & Westaway, 1995). Angophora robur is restricted to dry sclerophyll woodland on sandy or skeletal soils on sandstone, or occasionally granite (Johnson & Hill, 1990; DECC, 2005a). This species occurs within the Northern Rivers (NSW) Natural Resource Management Region (DECC, 2005a). The distribution of this species overlaps with the “White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland” EPBC Act-listed threatened ecological community.
Threats The main identified threats to Angophora robur are clearing of habitat for development or agriculture; too frequent fires, which may suppress regeneration; widening of roads; and timber harvesting (DECC, 2005a). The main potential threats identified for Angophora robur include development pressures on populations occurring on private land in Clarence Valley.
Research Priorities Research priorities that would inform future regional and local priority actions include: • Design and implement a monitoring program to ensure adequate recruitment is occurring (DECC, 2005b). • Undertake survey work in suitable habitat and potential habitat to locate any additional populations.
Angophora robur Conservation Advice - Page 1 of 3 This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on 3 July 2008 Regional and Local Priority Actions The following priority recovery and threat abatement actions can be done to support the recovery of Angophora robur. Habitat Loss, Disturbance and Modification • Monitor known populations to identify key threats. • Monitor the progress of recovery, including the effectiveness of management actions and the need to adapt them if necessary. • Prepare and distribute Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines for A. robur, and consider A. robur during environmental planning for Clarence Valley Local Government Area, as it occurs on areas of private land (DECC, 2005b). • Consider A. robur in the Code of Practice for Private Native Forestry where it occurs in areas where logging on private land may occur (DECC, 2005b). • Ensure road widening and maintenance activities (or other infrastructure or development activities) involving substrate or vegetation disturbance in areas where A. robur occurs does not adversely impact on known populations. • Investigate further formal conservation arrangements such as the use of covenants, conservation agreements or inclusion in reserve tenure. Fire • Develop and implement a suitable fire management strategy for A. robur. • Provide maps of known occurrences to local and state Rural Fire Services and seek inclusion of mitigative measures in bush fire risk management plans, risk register and/or operation maps. Conservation Information • Raise awareness of A. robur within the local community, particularly landowners adjacent to known sites (DECC, 2005b). Enable Recovery of Additional Sites and/or Populations • Undertake appropriate seed collection and storage. • Investigate and establish ex-situ collection in collaboration with Botanic Gardens Trust (DECC, 2005b). • Investigate options for linking, enhancing or establishing additional populations. • Implement national translocation protocols (Vallee et al., 2004) if establishing additional populations is considered necessary and feasible.
This list does not necessarily encompass all actions that may be of benefit to A. robur, but highlights those that are considered to be of highest priority at the time of preparing the conservation advice.
Existing Plans/Management Prescriptions that are Relevant to the Species • NSW Priority Action Statement for Angophora robur (DECC, 2005b). This prescription was current at the time of publishing; please refer to the relevant agency’s website for any updated version.
Information Sources: Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research (CPBR) 2006, EUCLID Eucalypts of Australia, Third Edition, DVD, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood. Department of Environment & Climate Change New South Wales (DECC) 2005a, Angophora robur – Profile, viewed 30 March 2008,
Angophora robur Conservation Advice - Page 2 of 3 This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on 3 July 2008 Department of Environment & Climate Change New South Wales (DECC) 2005b, Angophora robur – Priority actions (New South Wales Threatened Species Priority Action Statement), viewed 30 March 2008,
Angophora robur Conservation Advice - Page 3 of 3