INTERIM RECOVERY PLAN NO. 218 BOSCABEL CONOSTYLIS (CONOSTYLIS SETIGERA SUBSP. DASYS) INTERIM RECOVERY PLAN 2006-2011 May 2006 Department of Conservation and Land Management Species and Communities Branch (SCB) Kensington 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 Threatened taxa are conserved through the preparation and implementation of Recovery Plans (RPs) or IRPs, and by ensuring that conservation action commences as soon as possible and, in the case of Critically Endangered (CR) taxa, always within one year of endorsement of that rank by the Minister. This Interim Recovery Plan will operate from May 2006 to April 2011 but will remain in force until withdrawn or replaced.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 and the need for a full Recovery Plan will be assessed. This IRP was given regional approval on 13 February, 2006 and was approved by the Director of Nature Conservation on 22 February, 2006. 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 May 2006. IRP PREPARATION This IRP was prepared by Bethea Loudon1. 1 Flora Conservation Officer, CALM Katanning District, PO Box 811, Katanning 6317. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The following people have provided assistance and advice in the preparation of this Interim Recovery Plan: Anne Cochrane Manager, CALM’s Threatened Flora Seed Centre Amanda Shade Horticulturalist, Botanic Garden and Parks Authority Prof Steve Hopper School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Western Australia Andrew Brown Coordinator, Threatened Flora, CALM’s Species and Communities Branch Thanks also to the staff of the W.A. Herbarium for providing access to Herbarium databases and specimen information, and CALM's Species and Communities Branch for assistance. Cover photograph by Steve Hopper. CITATION This Interim Recovery Plan should be cited as: Department of Conservation and Land Management (2006). Boscabel Conostylis (Conostylis setigera subsp. dasys ) Interim Recovery Plan 2006-2011. Interim Recovery Plan No. 218. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia. 2 SUMMARY Scientific Name: Conostylis setigera subsp. dasys Common Name: Boscabel Conostylis Family: Haemodoraceae Flowering Period: October-November CALM Region: Wheatbelt CALM District: Katanning Shire: Shire of Kojonup Recovery Team: Katanning District Threatened Flora Recovery Team Illustrations and/or further information: A. Brown, C. Thomson-Dans and N. Marchant (Eds) (1998) Western Australia’s Threatened Flora; S.D. Hopper, R.W. Purdie, A.S. George and S.J. Patrick (1987), Haemodoraceae - Conostylis, Flora of Australia 45: 57-110. Current status: Conostylis setigera subsp. dasys was declared as Rare Flora under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 in November 1991 and currently (2004) meets World Conservation Union (IUCN, 2000) Red List Category Critically Endangered ‘CR’ under criteria A1(a); B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) due to an estimated decline in the number of mature individuals of 90% over three generations, a geographic range of less than 100 km2 and area of occupancy less than 10 km2, a severe fragmentation of populations (just two known) and a continuing decline in the quality of habitat. The species is listed as Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The main threats are the taxon’s narrow distribution, habitat degradation due to the effects of Phytophthora cinnamomi, rabbits and poor seed production/viability. Description: Conostylis setigera subsp. dasys is a tufted perennial herb 15-30cm in height. Its distinctive leaves are flat with rough, white shaggy hairs over the entire surface and margins, and are coarse to touch. In October and November a yellow inflorescence appears in heads of 5-10 flowers on stalks that are usually shorter than the leaves. Flowers change to red with age (Hopper et al 1987). Habitat requirements: Conostylis setigera subsp. dasys is currently known from just two populations northwest of Kojonup. It grows in gravelly loam, gravelly sand and occasionally gravel, in Eucalyptus marginata and E. wandoo woodlands with low heath where Jarrah is dominant over Wandoo. Habitat critical to the survival of the species, and important populations: Habitat critical to the survival of the species includes the area of occupancy of important populations; areas of similar habitat surrounding important populations (i.e. gravelly loam, gravelly sand and occasionally gravel in Eucalyptus marginata and E. wandoo woodlands with low heath where Jarrah is dominant over Wandoo) provide potential habitat for natural range extension and are necessary to provide habitat for pollinators; the local catchment of the surface and possibly ground waters that maintain the habitat of the species; and additional occurrences of similar habitat that may contain the species or be suitable sites for future translocations. Given that this subspecies is listed as Critically Endangered it is considered that all known habitat for wild and future translocated populations is habitat critical and that all populations are important. Benefits to other species/ecological communities: There are no threatened ecological communities or other threatened species in the immediate vicinity of Conostylis setigera subsp. dasys. However, recovery actions implemented to improve the quality or security of the habitat of the subspecies, such as rabbit control, will benefit the remnant bushland habitat in which it occurs. International Obligations: This plan is fully consistent with the aims and recommendations of the Convention on Biological Diversity that was ratified by Australia in June 1993, and will assist in implementing Australia’s responsibilities under that Convention. The species is not listed under the United Nations Environment Program World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In addition, it is not listed under any other specific international treaty and this Interim Recovery Plan (IRP) does not affect Australia’s obligations under these international agreements. Role and interests of indigenous people: Indigenous communities interested or involved in the region affected by this plan have not yet been identified. The Aboriginal Sites Register maintained by the Department of Indigenous Affairs does not list any significant sites in the vicinity of these populations. However, not all significant sites are listed on the Register. Implementation of recovery actions under this plan will include consideration of the role and interests of indigenous communities in the region. Social and economic impacts: The implementation of this recovery plan is unlikely to cause significant adverse social and/or economic impacts. Populations occur on road reserves, a gravel reserve, unvested crown land and private property. 3 Negotiations have resulted in a voluntary agreement that the area directly supporting the species on private property will be left uncleared. Affected interests: Stakeholders potentially affected by the implementation of this plan include the Shire of Kojonup, as managers of the land that contains Population 1c and 1d, Main Roads WA as the managers of the land containing Population 1a, and the owners of the private land where Population 1b occurs. Evaluation of the Plans Performance: CALM will evaluate the performance of this IRP in conjunction with the Katanning District Threatened Flora Recovery Team. 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. Existing Recovery Actions: The following recovery actions have been or are currently being implemented – 1. Managers of land on which Population 1 and 2 occur have been made aware of the location and threatened status of the taxon. 2. Population 1B is a large piece of privately owned bush, fenced for conservation purposes. Other subpopulations of Population 1 and Population 2 are unfenced but are not affected by stock. 3. Some 63 seeds were collected from Population 1C and 70 seeds from Population 2 in December 1999. These are stored in CALM's Threatened Flora Seed Centre at –18C. Germination results were poor (0% and 11%). 4. The Botanic Garden and Parks Authority (BGPA) currently have 8 plants (of one clone) of Conostylis setigera subsp. dasys, and all are growing in the BGPA Nursery. 5. Cuttings were taken by Luke Sweedman (BGPA) in September 1993 from Population 1A. 6. Declared Rare Flora (DRF) markers are in place on road verges for populations 1A and 1D. 7. Environmental markers are present on power poles (Pole #127, 128 & 129) at Population 1B. 8. Staff from CALM's Katanning District regularly monitor populations of the taxon. 9. The Katanning District Threatened Flora Recovery Team is overseeing the implementation