Interim Recovery Plan No

INTERIM RECOVERY PLAN NO. 175 CARBUNUP KING SPIDER ORCHID (CALADENIA PROCERA) INTERIM RECOVERY PLAN 2004-2009 Gillian Stack1 & Val English2 1 Project Officer, WA Threatened Species and Communities Unit, CALM, PO Box 51 Wanneroo, 6946. 2 Acting Senior Ecologist, Threatened Species and Communities Unit, CALM, PO Box 51 Wanneroo, 6946. Photograph: Andrew Brown July 2004 Department of Conservation and Land Management Western Australian Threatened Species and Communities Unit (WATSCU) PO Box 51, Wanneroo, WA 6946 Interim Recovery Plan for Caladenia procera FOREWORD Interim Recovery Plans (IRPs) are developed within the framework laid down in Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) Policy Statements Nos. 44 and 50. IRPs outline the recovery actions that are required to urgently address those threatening processes most affecting the ongoing survival of threatened taxa or ecological communities, and begin the recovery process. CALM is committed to ensuring that Critically Endangered taxa are conserved through the preparation and implementation of Recovery Plans or Interim Recovery Plans and by ensuring that conservation action commences as soon as possible and always within one year of endorsement of that rank by the Minister. This Interim Recovery Plan will operate from July 2004 to June 2009 but will remain in force until withdrawn or replaced. It is intended that, if the taxon is still ranked Critically Endangered, this IRP will be reviewed after five years. This IRP was given regional approval on 16 July 2004 and was approved by the Director of Nature Conservation on 22 July 2004. The allocation of staff time and provision of funds identified in this Interim Recovery Plan is dependent on budgetary and other constraints affecting CALM, as well as the need to address other priorities. Information in this IRP was accurate at July 2004. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The following people have provided assistance and advice in the preparation of this Interim Recovery Plan: Leonie Monks Research Scientist, CALM’s W.A. Herbarium Dr Andrew Batty Research Scientist, BGPA Thanks also to the staff of the W.A. Herbarium for providing access to Herbarium databases and specimen information, and CALM's Wildlife Branch for assistance. 2 Interim Recovery Plan for Caladenia procera SUMMARY Scientific Name: Caladenia procera Common Name: Carbunup King Spider Orchid Family: Orchidaceae Flowering Period: September – October CALM Region: South West CALM District: Blackwood Shire: Busselton Recovery Team: South West Region Threatened Flora Recovery Team Illustrations and/or further information: Hopper, S.D. and Brown, A.P. (2001) Contributions to Western Australian Orchidology: 2. New taxa and circumscriptions in Caladenia (Spider, Fairy and Dragon orchids of Western Australia). Nuytsia 14(1/2), 27-308. Current status: Caladenia procera was declared as Rare Flora in April 2002. It currently meets World Conservation Union (IUCN 2000) Red List Category Critically Endangered (CR) under criteria C1 as there is a total of less than 250 plants, with continuing decline in the number of adult plants and available habitat. The main threats are land clearing, road and firebreak maintenance, weed invasion, inappropriate fire regimes and grazing. Critical habitat: The critical habitat for Caladenia procera comprises the area of occupancy of the known populations; similar habitat within 200 metres of known populations; corridors of remnant vegetation that link populations and additional nearby occurrences of similar habitat that do not currently contain the species but may have done so and may be suitable for translocations. Habitat critical to the survival of the species, and important populations: Given that this species is listed as Critically Endangered it is considered that all known habitat for wild and translocated populations is critical to its survival and that all populations, including any based on translocation, are important. Benefits to other species/ecological communities: The critically endangered Caladenia busselliana and C. viridescens occur in the habitat of Population 1 of Caladenia procera. In addition, the habitat at this site is a threatened ecological community ‘Eucalyptus calophylla woodlands on heavy soils of the southern Swan Coastal Plain’. This community is listed as Vulnerable in Western Australia. Recovery actions implemented to improve the quality or security of the habitat of the species, such as weed control and rehabilitation, will be of benefit to the other threatened species and the threatened ecological community that occur with C. procera. International Obligations: This plan is fully consistent with the aims and recommendations of the Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by Australia in June 1993, and will assist in implementing Australia’s responsibilities under that convention. The taxon is not listed under any specific international treaty, however, and therefore this IRP does not affect Australia’s obligations under any other international agreements. Role and interests of indigenous people: According to the Department of Indigenous Affairs Aboriginal Heritage Sites Register, no sites have been discovered near the Caladenia procera population. Input and involvement will be sought from any indigenous groups that have an active interest in the areas that are habitat for C. procera, and this is discussed in the recovery actions. Social and economic impacts: It is possible that there will be some economic impacts associated with the implementation of this plan. There are development proposals for private land that contains populations of Caladenia procera. Other populations occur on Shire managed reserves. Recovery actions refer to continued negotiations between stakeholders with regard these areas. Evaluation of the Plan’s Performance: The Department of Conservation and Land Management, in conjunction with the Recovery Team will evaluate the performance of this IRP. In addition to annual reporting on progress with listed actions and comparison against the criteria for success and failure, the plan is to be reviewed within five years of its implementation. Habitat requirements: Caladenia procera is currently known from a linear range of less than 15 km in an area south west of Busselton, where it grows in Jarrah, Marri and Peppermint woodland on alluvial sandy-clay loam flats with Anigozanthos manglesii (Hopper and Brown 2001). Existing Recovery Actions: The following recovery actions have been or are currently being implemented: 1. Land managers have been made aware of the location and threatened status of the species. 2. Negotiations have taken place between CALM and land manager to reserve most of the plants at Population 2. 3. Negotiations are ongoing regarding the future land use in the habitat of Population 4. 4. Seed, and the associated mycorrhizal fungus, has been collected and is stored at the Botanic Garden and Parks Authority (BGPA). 3 Interim Recovery Plan for Caladenia procera 5. Staff from CALM's Blackwood District regularly monitor populations of the species. 6. The South West Region Threatened Flora Recovery Team is overseeing the implementation of this IRP and will include information on progress in an annual report to CALM's Corporate Executive and funding bodies. IRP Objective: The objective of this Interim Recovery Plan is to abate identified threats and maintain or enhance in situ populations to ensure the long-term preservation of the species in the wild. Recovery criteria Criteria for success: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased by ten percent or more over the period of the plan’s adoption under the EPBC Act. Criteria for failure: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have decreased by ten percent or more over the period of the plan’s adoption under the EPBC Act. Recovery actions 1. Coordinate recovery actions 8. Liaise with land managers 2. Seek long-term protection of habitat 9. Obtain biological and ecological information 3. Conduct further surveys 10. Promote awareness 4. Collect seed and fungal material 11. Undertake weed control as necessary 5. Undertake translocation 12. Rehabilitate habitat, as necessary 6. Develop and implement a fire management strategy 13 Review the need for a full Recovery Plan 7. Monitor populations 4 Interim Recovery Plan for Caladenia procera 1. BACKGROUND History E. Coleman made the first collection of Caladenia procera from the Busselton area in 1929. Unfortunately, there was not enough detail to relocate this population. However, four populations have now been recorded, and these contain a total of approximately 220 plants. This species was at one time considered to be a subspecies of Caladenia pectinata, but is now formally described as a separate species (Hopper and Brown 2001). Caladenia procera is found in a sandy habitat in an area that has been extensively cleared for agriculture. A proportion of the remaining habitat is now subject to development for residential and associated purposes. Description Caladenia procera is a perennial herb that dies back to a dormant tuber over the hot summer months. It grows to 70 cm tall, and has a single pale green leaf that is 10-30 cm long and 6-10 mm wide. The stiffly-held petals and sepals of the flowers are greenish lemon yellow with lines and spots of dull maroon to pink. The labellum is also greenish yellow with pale pink to fawn radiating stripes, ending in a dark maroon recurved tip (Hopper and Brown 2001). Caladenia

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