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 Eucalyptus cannonii (Cannons Stringybark)
This Conservation Advice has been developed based on the best available information at the time this conservation advice was approved.
Description Eucalyptus cannonii, Family Myrtaceae, also known as Cannons Stringybark and Capertee Stringybark, is a tree growing to 12–25 m, depending on the site (Hall & Brooker, 1973; Chippendale, 1988). It is a stringybark, with its bark persistent to the small branches. The bark is coarsely fibrous, with deep longitudinal furrows and greyish-brown in colour (Hall & Brooker, 1973). The flowers are white to cream (Benson & McDougall, 1998). It can be distinguished from E. macrorhyncha, a closely related species that may be present in similar habitat, by the angular buds and usually larger fruit with a medial rim and shorter pedicels. Hybrids between the two species are common in some places where they co-exist. Hybrids may be distinguished in the field on the basis of fruit diameter, lack of prominence of the medial rim and reduced angularity of buds. Eucalyptus cannonii is listed as a synonym of Eucalyptus macrorhyncha subsp. cannonii in the Australian Plant Census (CHAH, 2008).
Conservation Status Cannons Stringybark 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). The species is also listed as vulnerable under the Threatened Species and Conservation Act 1995 (NSW).
Distribution and Habitat Cannons Stringybark has a restricted occurrence in the Ilford–Rylstone–Capertee region of the NSW Central Tablelands (Brooker & Kleinig, 2006). At least 30 populations are known, extending from east of Mudgee to east of Bathurst, over a range of 100 km by 60 km (Hunter & White, 1999). This species occurs within the Central West, Hawkesbury–Nepean, and Hunter–Central Rivers (NSW) Natural Resource Management Regions. The species is reserved within Wollemi and Gardens of Stone National Parks and Winburndale Nature Reserve. A conservative estimate of population size is at least 6000 individuals in the Winburndale Reserve and a total number of plants well in excess of 10 000 across the range of the species (Hunter & White, 1999). Most populations occur in remnant vegetation. It is likely that, prior to European settlement, this taxon was locally common, though rare and disjunct across its distribution. Some contraction and extinction of populations have been associated with clearing for agriculture (Hunter & White, 1999). Hunter & White (1999) provide a map of known populations based on herbarium records, and confirm that the species still occurs at all historical collection localities. This species mostly occurs on rocky, usually poor, steep ridges in dry sclerophyll forest, although is can also be found in valleys and on gentle slopes (Hall & Brooker, 1973). The soils vary from skeletal with very free drainage to deeper sandy podsols on a range of parent rock that includes sandstone, shale, basalt, trachyte, claystone and coarse conglomerate (Hall & Brooker, 1973; Hunter & White, 1999). Associated tree species include Red Stringybark (E. macrorhyncha), Thin-leaved Stringybark (E. eugenioides), Red Box (E. polyanthemos) Eucalyptus cannonii Conservation Advice - Page 1 of 4 This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on 3 July 2008 and Scribbly Gum (E. rossii). On the intermediate slopes there may also be Narrow-leaved Red Ironbark (E. crebra) (Hall and Brooker, 1973). Other associated species include E. blakelyi, E. melliodora, E. bridgesiana, E. dalrympleana and E. viminalis on lower slopes with E. mannifera subsp. praecox, E. laevopinea, E. oblonga, E. sparsifolia, E. dives, E. goniocalyx and Angophora intermedia in high rocky areas (Benson & McDougall, 1998; Hunter & White, 1999). The distribution of this species is known to overlap 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 Cannons Stringybark include land clearing, along with the suite of genetic and stochastic threats, such as disease, that are associated with the persistence of small isolated populations (Hunter & White, 1999).
The main potential threat to Cannons Stringybark is too frequent fire, which may reduce the vigour of mature trees and kill seedlings and young regeneration. Roadside populations may be threatened by road-works and tree lopping. Grazing may prevent regeneration of the species in paddocks, and logging and preferential exploitation for firewood collection may occur at some locations (DECC, 2005).
Research Priorities Research priorities that would inform future regional and local priority actions include: • Design and implement a monitoring program. • Undertake seed germination trials to determine the requirements for successful establishment.
Regional Priority Actions The following regional priority recovery and threat abatement actions can be done to support the recovery of Cannons Stringybark. 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. • Identify populations of high conservation priority. • Ensure chemicals or other mechanisms used to eradicate weeds do not have a significant adverse impact on Cannons Stringybark. • Ensure road widening and maintenance activities (including tree lopping), and other infrastructure or development activities involving substrate or vegetation disturbance in areas where the species occurs, do not adversely impact on known populations. • Investigate formal conservation arrangements such as the use of covenants, conservation agreements or inclusion in reserve tenure. Trampling, Browsing or Grazing • Encourage livestock management so as to maintain or improve habitat for this species. • Develop and implement a stock management plan for roadside verges and travelling stock routes. Fire • Develop and implement a suitable fire management strategy for Cannons Stringybark.
Eucalyptus cannonii Conservation Advice - Page 2 of 4 This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on 3 July 2008 • Ensure the Threatened Species Hazard Reduction List is updated with the requirements of this species and that personnel undertaking burns are aware of its presence and fire sensitivity (DECC, 2005). • 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 Cannons Stringybark within the local community, especially among landowners and managers. Enable Recovery of Additional Sites and/or Populations • Undertake appropriate seed collection and storage. • 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.
Local Priority Actions The following local priority recovery and threat abatement actions can be done to support the recovery of Cannons Stringybark. Habitat Loss, Disturbance and Modification • Undertake survey work in suitable habitat and potential habitat to locate any additional populations/occurrences/remnants. • Protect populations of Cannons Stringybark through the development of conservation agreements and/or covenants. • Appropriately manage fire wood collection. Invasive Weeds • Identify and remove weeds in the local area, which could become a threat to Cannons Stringybark, using appropriate methods. • Manage site/s to prevent introduction of invasive weeds, which could become a threat to Cannons Stringybark, using appropriate methods. Fire • Implement an appropriate fire management regime for local populations. • Review / include operational guidelines for Winburndale Nature Reserve, Garden of Stone National Park, Avisford Nature Reserve and Wollemi National Park Reserve Fire Management Strategies to ensure this species is protected from fire, with a fire frequency of >5 years (DECC, 2005).
This list does not necessarily encompass all actions that may be of benefit to this species, 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 • The Gardens of Stone National Park Draft Plan of Management (DEC, 2004), and • The Winburndale Nature Reserve Draft Plan of Management (DEC, 2005). These prescriptions were current at the time of publishing; please refer to the relevant agency’s website for any updated versions.
Eucalyptus cannonii Conservation Advice - Page 3 of 4 This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on 3 July 2008 Information Sources: Benson, D & McDougall, L 1998, ‘Ecology of Sydney plant species: Part 6 Dicotyledon family Myrtaceae’, Cunninghamia, vol. 5, pp. 809-987. Brooker, MIH & Kleinig, DA 2006, Field Guide to Eucalypts: Volume 1, South-eastern Australia, Bloomings Books, Victoria. Chippendale, GM 1988, ‘Myrtaceae - Eucalyptus, Angophora’, In: Flora of Australia, vol. 19, Canberra: AGPS. Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria (CHAH) 2008, Australian Plant Census, Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, viewed 30 April 2008,
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