Flame Spider-Flower (Grevillea Kennedyana) Recovery Plan
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Approved Recovery Plan Flame Spider-flower (Grevillea kennedyana) Recovery Plan May 2000 © NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2000. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced without prior written permission from NPWS. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 43 Bridge Street (PO Box 1967) Hurstville NSW 2220 Tel: 02 95856444 www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/recovery_plans/index.html For further information contact Threatened Species Unit, Western Directorate. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service P.O. Box 2111 Dubbo NSW 2830 Tel (02) 6883 5330 Email <[email protected] Cover illustrations: Flame Spider Flower (Grevillea kennedyana) Photographer: Michele Cooper This plan should be cited as follows; NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2000). Flame Spider-flower (Grevillea kennedyana) Recovery Plan. NSW NPWS. ISBN 0 7313 6156 3 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Recovery Planning Program Flame Spider Flower (Grevillea kennedyana) Recovery Plan Prepared in accordance with the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 May 2000 Acknowledgments This plan was originally prepared by Michele Cooper and Matt White, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Directorate. Amendments were made to the draft and approved plans by Carolyn Raine and Robyn Molsher, respectively, from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Directorate. Much of the information contained in this plan is based on information collated by Ann Duncan under contract to NPWS. Invaluable advice, observation and comment towards the development of this plan was provided by Bob Mackinson, Australian National Herbarium, Glen Fensom, Mt. Annan Botanic Gardens, Joe McAuliffe, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Anne Kerle, Jo Smith and the following NPWS officers Rita Enke, Bronwyn Johnston, Kim Piddington, Simon Allender, Douglas Beckers, Dani Ayers, Col Dollary and Andrew McDougal (Qld Dept. of Env.). Thanks also to the neighbours of Sturt National Park, who continue to assist in the conservation of Grevillea kennedyana. Foreword The conservation of threatened species, populations and ecological communities is crucial for the maintenance of this State’s unique biodiversity. In NSW, the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) provides the framework to conserve and recover threatened species, populations and ecological communities through the preparation and implementation of recovery plans. The preparation and implementation of recovery plans is identified by both the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity and the approved NSW Biodiversity Strategy as a key strategy for the conservation of threatened flora, fauna and invertebrates. The object of a recovery plan is to document the research and management actions required to promote the recovery of a threatened species, population or ecological community and to ensure its ongoing viability in nature. This plan describes our current understanding of the Flame Spider-flower, documents the research and management actions undertaken to date and identifies the actions required and parties responsible to ensure ongoing viability of the species in the wild. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has prepared the Flame Spider-flower Recovery Plan with the assistance of a number of people. I thank these people for their efforts to date and look forward to their continued contribution to the recovery of the species. BOB DEBUS MP Minister for the Environment Executive Summary Introduction Legislative context The Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) is NSW’s most comprehensive attempt at establishing a legislative framework to protect and encourage the recovery of threatened species, populations and communities. Under the TSC Act, the Director-General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service has certain responsibilities including the preparation of recovery plans for threatened species, populations and ecological communities. This Recovery Plan has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the TSC Act. Preparation of plan This approved Recovery Plan has been prepared with the assistance of interested parties with relevant expertise. Components within the plan do not necessarily represent the views nor the official positions of all the individuals or agencies consulted. The information in this Recovery Plan was accurate to the best of the NPWS’ knowledge on the date that it was approved. Current species status Grevillea kennedyana (Flame Spider-flower) is a shrub of restricted distribution occurring naturally in the extreme north-west of New South Wales and adjacent areas of Queensland. At present, G. kennedyana is known from six separate geographic locations. The total number of individual plants is currently thought to exceed 13,000, most of which occur within Sturt National Park, NSW. The species is listed as ‘vulnerable’ under Schedule 1 part 2 of the Commonwealth Endangered Species Act Protection 1992 and listed as ‘vulnerable’ under Schedule 2 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Known populations are thought to be threatened by lack of recruitment and total browsing pressure. One previously recorded population is thought to have become extinct as a consequence of browsing pressure (Enke and Mills 1997). Recovery objectives The long-term objective of this recovery plan is the conservation of the species in the wild in the long term. In the medium term (next 10 years) the objective is for the conservation status of G. kennedyana to be downgraded from ‘Vulnerable’ to ‘Conservation dependant’ or ‘Rare’ (IUCN criteria). Specific objectives of the G. kennedyana recovery plan are to: 1. regularly monitor and protect all known populations across the species range in New South Wales; 2. identify and manage threats to the species’ survival and recruitment; and 3. improve the management of any identified threats by involving the community in the conservation of the species and through liaison with relevant landholders/managers. Recovery criteria Recovery criteria for G. kennedyana are that: 1. any trend or pattern of continuing decline in known wild populations is prevented where possible; 2. the impacts of browsing and grazing animals on wild populations are understood; and 3. relevant landholders/managers and interested stakeholders are aware of the species and its conservation through their involvement in recovery actions and the regular dissemination of information. Recovery actions Recovery actions for G. kennedyana will be directed towards: 1. the regular monitoring of wild populations; 2. identifying, anticipating and managing potential threats to known populations, in particular the impacts of browsing and grazing animals; and 3. establishing links with landholders/managers and stakeholders and seeking their ongoing involvement in recovery actions. BRIAN GILLIGAN Director-General Table of Contents Acknowledgments Foreword Executive Summary 1 Current Conservation Status......................................... 1 2 Description ...................................................................... 1 2.1 General description ....................................................... 1 2.2 Taxonomy ..................................................................... 2 3 Distribution ..................................................................... 3 3.1 Tenure........................................................................... 5 4 Ecology ............................................................................ 6 4.1 Life history.................................................................... 6 5 Habitat............................................................................. 6 6 Relevant Legislation ....................................................... 8 7 Management Issues......................................................... 9 7.1 Threats and possible reasons for decline........................ 9 7.1.1 Fire ............................................................................... 9 7.1.2 Grazing ....................................................................... 10 7.2 Social and economic consequences ............................. 10 7.2.1 Social considerations ................................................... 10 7.2.2 Scientific and taxonomic value..................................... 10 8 Previous Actions Undertaken ...................................... 11 8.1 Survey and recovery actions........................................ 11 8.2 Current ex-situ programs ............................................. 11 9 Species Ability to Recover ............................................12 10 Recovery Objectives and Performance Criteria.........12 10.1 Objectives of the Recovery Plan ..................................12 10.2 Recovery performance criteria .....................................12 11 Recovery Actions...........................................................13 11.1 Action 1 - Monitoring and browsing impacts................13 11.2 Action 2 - Germination requirements............................14 11.3 Action 3 - Community liaison and awareness ...............14 12 Alternative Management Strategies.............................15 12.1 Option 1. No management action taken.......................15 12.2 Option 2. Research on fire response............................15 12.3 Option 3. Other research .............................................15 13 Community Involvement...............................................16