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 Homoranthus prolixus This Conservation Advice has been developed based on the best available information at the time this conservation advice was approved. Description Homoranthus prolixus, Family Myrtaceae, also known as Granite Homoranthus, is a prostrate spreading shrub that grows 0.3–0.8 m high. Leaves are 3–6 mm long, 0.5–1 mm wide with a tapered tip and dull blue-green colouring. Flowers are yellow to red and occur in groups of 1–6 at the upper part of the branches. There are multi-cellular hairs between the ribs on the flowers’ outer surface (Craven & Jones, 1991; Harden, 2002; DECC, 2005a). Conservation Status Homoranthus prolixus 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). Homoranthus prolixus is also listed as vulnerable under Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW). Distribution and Habitat Granite Homoranthus occurs in northern NSW in six populations between Inverell and Bendemeer, and is conserved in The Basin Nature Reserve and Goonoowigall Bushland Reserve (Craven & Jones, 1991; NSW NPWS, 2004; Copeland et al., 2007). This species has a localised distribution and the population abundance ranges from frequent to locally abundant. A site north east of Bendemeer has about 300 healthy plants across two rocky outcrops, however other sites have fewer than 30 individuals (DECC, 2005a). Granite Homoranthus grows in heath on skeletal soil among crevices in granite outcrops (Craven & Jones, 1991). Associated vegetation includes Acacia neriifolia, A. granitica, Olearia elliptica, Cryptandra amara, Callitris endlicheri, and Eucalyptus dealbata (DECC, 2005a). This species occurs within the Border Rivers–Gwydir and Namoi (NSW) Natural Resource Management Regions. The distribution of this species overlaps 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 Granite Homoranthus are clearing and fragmentation of habitat; browsing and trampling by feral goats (Carpa hircus) and pigs (Sus scrofa); trampling by bushwalkers; road construction and maintenance; frequent fires; weed invasion; and localised extinction due to small populations with scattered distribution (DECC, 2005a). Research Priorities Research priorities that would inform future regional and local priority actions include: • Design and implement a monitoring program. Homoranthus prolixus Conservation Advice - Page 1 of 3 This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on 3 July 2008 • More precisely assess population size, distribution, ecological requirements and the relative impacts of threatening processes. • Undertake survey work in suitable habitat and potential habitat to locate any additional populations and notify DECC of any new records (DECC, 2005a). Regional Priority Actions The following regional priority recovery and threat abatement actions can be done to support the recovery of Granite Homoranthus. 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 road widening and maintenance activities (and other infrastructure or development activities) involving substrate or vegetation disturbance in areas where Granite Homoranthus occurs do not adversely impact on known populations (DECC, 2005a). • Investigate further formal conservation arrangements, management agreements and covenants on private land, and for crown and private land investigate inclusion in reserve tenure if possible. Invasive Weeds • Develop and implement a management plan for the control of Coolatai Grass (Hyparrhenia hirta) in Goonoowigal CCA Zone 3 State Conservation Area (DPI NSW, 2002; DECC, 2005b). • Ensure chemicals or other mechanisms used to eradicate weeds do not have a significant adverse impact Granite Homoranthus. Fire • Develop and implement an appropriate fire management strategy to protect Granite Homoranthus from frequent fires (DECC, 2005a). • Identify appropriate intensity and interval of fire to promote seed germination and/or vegetation regeneration. • 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 Granite Homoranthus within the local community and support local Landcare groups to help conserve the species (DECC, 2005a). 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 Granite Homoranthus. Habitat Loss, Disturbance and Modification • Control access routes to suitably constrain public access to known sites on public land. • Minimise adverse impacts from land use at known sites. Homoranthus prolixus Conservation Advice - Page 2 of 3 This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on 3 July 2008 Trampling, Browsing or Grazing • Prevent grazing and trampling pressure at known sites through exclusion fencing or other barriers. • Control introduced pests such as pigs and goats (DECC, 2005a) to manage threats at known sites in reserve areas. Invasive Weeds • Identify and remove weeds in the local area, which could become a threat to Granite Homoranthus, using appropriate methods. • Manage sites to prevent introduction of invasive weeds, which could become a threat to Granite Homoranthus, using appropriate methods. This list does not necessarily encompass all actions that may be of benefit to Homoranthus prolixus, 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 • NSW Priority Action Statement for Homoranthus prolixus (DECC, 2005b), • The Basin Nature Reserve – Plan of Management (NSW NPWS, 2004), • Threat Abatement Plan for Predation, Habitat Degradation, Competition and Disease Transmission by Feral Pigs (DEH, 2005), and • Threat Abatement Plan for Competition and Land Degradation by Feral Goats (EA, 1999). These prescriptions were current at the time of publishing; please refer to the relevant agency’s website for any updated versions. Information Sources: Copeland, LM, Bruhl, JJ, Craven, LA & Brubaker, CL 2007, ‘Phenetic analyses of Homoranthus (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae)’, Australian Systematic Botany, vol. 20, no. 5, pp. 417-427. Craven, LA & Jones, SR 1991, ‘A taxonomic review of Homoranthus and two new species of Darwinia (both Myrtaceae, Chamelaucieae)’, Australian Systematic Botany, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 513-533. Department of Environment & Climate Change New South Wales (DECC) 2005a, ‘Homoranthus prolixus – Profile’, viewed 30 April 2008, <http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/ tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10411>. Department of Environment & Climate Change New South Wales (DECC) 2005b, ‘Homoranthus prolixus – Priority actions, (New South Wales Threatened Species Priority Action Statement)’, viewed 30 April 2008, <http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/pas_profile.aspx?id=10411>. Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) 2005, Threat abatement plan for the predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission by feral pigs, viewed 30 April 2008, <http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/pig/pubs/feral-pig-tap.pdf>. Department of Primary Industries New South Wales (DPI NSW) 2002, Management of Coolatai Grass on the north west slopes of NSW, viewed 30 April 2008, <http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/169076/coolatai-grass.pdf>. Environment Australia 1999, Threat Abatement Plan for Competition and Land Degradation by Feral Goats, Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia, viewed 30 April 2008, <http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/goats/index.html>. Harden, GJ 2002, ‘Homoranthus’, in: Harden, GJ (Ed.) Flora of New South Wales, vol. 2, University of New South Wales Press, Sydney, pp. 217-220. NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (NSW NPWS) 2004, The Basin Nature Reserve – Plan of Management, viewed 30 April 2008, <http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/PoMfinalTheBasinNR.pdf>. Vallee, L, Hogbin, T, Monks, L, Makinson, B, Matthes, M & Rossetto, M 2004, Guidelines for the Translocation of Threatened Plants in Australia (2nd ed.), Australian Network for Plant Conservation, Canberra. Homoranthus prolixus Conservation Advice - Page 3 of 3 .