2019 Proposed Amendments to the Status of Threatened Species in South Australia Proposed amendments to the Threatened Species Schedules of the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 In South Australia, threatened plants and animals are listed in schedules of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (NPW Act), to identify and protect species of conservation concern. The “Threatened Species Schedules” of the NPW Act currently provide for three categories of threat: Endangered (Schedule 7), Vulnerable (Schedule 8) and Rare (Schedule 9), which are designed to reflect the relative risk of extinction in the wild. With the assistance of scientific experts, the Department for Environment and Water assesses the conservation status of South Australia’s plant and animal species. Based on these assessments, the Threatened Species Schedules of the NPW Act are periodically amended to reflect new information, taxonomic changes, and changes in the threat status of species. Public comment is now being sought on recommended changes (new listings, delisting or changes in threat category) for 65 species, to inform proposed amendments to the Threatened Species Schedules. Comments relating to the eligibility of these species for the recommended status classifications and criteria, together with additional information relevant to the assessments, should be sent to [email protected]. Comments will be accepted until 16 August 2019. Suggestions for priority assessments of species not listed here will also be considered for inclusion in the ongoing assessments work plan. Assessments process The South Australian Department for Environment and Water assesses the conservation status of the State’s plant and animal species with considerable assistance from panels of experts on different taxonomic groups. This is an ongoing task that is also dependent upon the continued acquisition of distributional and population data from scientific and community sources. When conducting assessments, DEW assigns species to a threat category as established by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), based on IUCN criteria and guidelines, applied to populations within South Australia. IUCN criteria are summarised in Appendix 1 and more information can be found at: For more information please contact the Department for Environment and Water via email at: [email protected] IUCN (2012). Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. Second edition. https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/RL-2001-001-2nd.pdf. IUCN (2017). Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 13 http://nc.iucnredlist.org/redlist/content/attachment_files/RedListGuidelines.pdf. For species that also occur outside of South Australia, DEW applies the Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0 (2012) https://www.iucn.org/content/guidelines-application-iucn-red-list-criteria-regional-and-national- levels-version-40. This may lead to an adjustment of the threat category, to reflect the influence of adjacent populations on the risk of extinction from SA. The threatened species schedules of the NPW Act do not currently provide for all of the IUCN categories, as used by other Australian jurisdictions (Fig. 1). Therefore to fit within the current schedules, all species classified as Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, and Endangered are listed in Schedule 7 (“Endangered”); and those classified as Vulnerable are listed in Schedule 8 (“Vulnerable”). Plants and animals that are at lesser risk than Vulnerable species, but are still of conservation concern due to their limited distribution, small population size and/or historic declines Schedule 9 (“Rare”). The criteria for assessing species as “Rare” in South Australia are included in Appendix 2. SA NPW Act 1972 categories E V R Endangered Vulnerable Rare EX Extinct EW Extinct in the Wild CR Critically Endangered E Endangered V Vulnerable IUCN IUCN categories NT Near Threatened LC Least Concern Figure 1. Relationship between the threatened species schedule and IUCN categories For more information please contact the Department for Environment and Water via email at: [email protected] Proposed changes The proposed amendments to the Threatened Species Schedules can be found in Appendix 3. The proposed changes include recommendations for: 30 species to be listed for the first time (8 fauna; 22 flora) 15 species to be moved to a higher threat category (8 fauna; 7 flora) 5 species to be moved to a lower threat category (0 fauna; 5 flora); and 15 species to be delisted (6 fauna; 9 flora). The proposed amendments also include administrative changes to reflect updates to the taxonomy and/or nomenclature (naming) of existing listed species (Appendix 4 and 5). This is not a revision of the entire threatened species schedules; further updates will be proposed periodically, as additional species assessments are completed. For more information please contact the Department for Environment and Water via email at: [email protected] Appendix 1. Summary of the five criteria (A-E) used to evaluate if a taxon belongs in a threatened category (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable). For more information please contact the Department for Environment and Water via email at: [email protected] Appendix 2. The current criteria for assessing species in South Australia as Rare Criteria a Reduced area of occupancy and/or extent of occurrence: Taxa that have disappeared from >50% of their former area of occupancy and/or extent of occurrence and it is observed, estimated, inferred or suspected that further decline is continuing. b Declined in abundance: Taxa that have experienced a significant decline in abundance in >50% of their former area of occupancy and/or extent of occurrence and it is observed, estimated, inferred or suspected that further decline is continuing. c Small populations: Taxa where it is observed, estimated, inferred or suspected that the total population size numbers <3000 mature individuals and specifying any of the following. i) Resident population ii) Regular visitors to the state (eg. migratory taxa) iii) Irregular visitors to the state (eg. in response to episodic rainfall events) iv) Taxa that are experiencing range extensions into SA, with data for other areas showing that they are increasing in range and abundance. d Restricted extent of occurrence or area of occupancy: Taxa with either of the following: i) extent of occurrence <20,000 km2 ii) area of occupancy <2,000 km2 that is highly fragmented. For more information please contact the Department for Environment and Water via email at: [email protected] Threatened Species Schedules Review 2019 Appendix 3. SUMMARY OF PROPOSED REVIEW OF THREATENED SPECIES SCHEDULES Current Proposed Reason for proposed Common Name Scientific Name Criteria Met Summary of Eligibility Schedule Schedule change of status FLORA This SA-endemic species has a restricted distribution, small population size and a Yellow-tails Ptilotus nobilis ssp. angustifolius E EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i) Not previously assessed projected, continuing decline in the area and quality of habitat. This SA-endemic species has been assessed as Endangered under the EPBC Act on the Arckaringa Daisy Olearia arckaringensis E EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) basis of its restricted distribution and number of locations, and inferred continuing Not previously assessed decline. Hill Daisy Brachyscome aculeata R RA d(i,ii) Restricted extent and area occupied (south-east SA). Not previously assessed Current and/or former occurrence of this species in South Australia is considered to be Field Daisy Brachyscome decipiens E New information doubtful. Recent records and expert knowledge indicate that this species has a wider Brachyscome eriogona R n/a distribution than previously thought, and it does not meet criteria for listing as New information threatened. Current and/or former occurrence of this species in South Australia is considered to be Audas' or McIvor Spider-orchid Caladenia audasii E New information doubtful. Current and/or former occurrence of this species in South Australia is considered to be Crimson Spider-orchid Caladenia concolor E New information doubtful. Recent records and expert knowledge indicate that this species has a wider Yellow Burr-daisy Calotis lappulacea R n/a distribution than previously thought, and it does not meet criteria for listing as New information threatened. Branched Everlasting Coronidium adenophorum R RA d(ii) Restricted area occupied (Kangaroo Island and SA Murray Darling Basin). Not previously assessed Current and/or former occurrence of this species in South Australia is considered to be Wrinkled Cassinia Cassinia rugata E New information doubtful. Iotasperma sessilifolium R RA d(i,ii) Restricted extent and area occupied (SA arid lands). Not previously assessed Lanky Buttons have a restricted distribution, small population size, and observed and Lanky Buttons Leptorhynchos elongatus R E EN B2ab(i,ii,iii); C2a(i) More threatened projected continuing decline due to threats including weeds and rabbits. Gawler Ranges Groundsel Senecio gawlerensis R RA d(ii) Restricted area occupied (Eyre Peninsula, southern Flinders Ranges and north-east SA). Not previously assessed Cut-leaf Groundsel Senecio laceratus