This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on: 26/3/2008 A statement for the purposes of approved conservation advice (s266B of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) Approved Conservation Advice for Baloskion longipes This Conservation Advice has been developed based on the best available information at the time this conservation advice was approved. Description Baloskion longipes, Family Restionaceae, previously listed as Restio longipes, is a perennial, grass-like erect sedge with culms (flowering stems) to 150 cm long arising from a compact rhizome (underground stem) (Meney & Pate, 1999; DECC, 2005). This dioecious taxon (male and female flowers on different plants) flowers in summer with seed maturation taking a further 6–8 months (Meney & Pate, 1999). The species is known to resprout after fire (Meney & Pate, 1999). Conservation Status Baloskion longipes 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, Restio longipes 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 Conservation Act 1995 (NSW). Distribution and Habitat Baloskion longipes is known from the Kanangra–Boyd area in the Southern Tablelands (NSW) (DECC, 2005). Populations have been recorded in the Blue Mountains National Park (NP), Kanangra–Boyd NP, Penrose State Forest (in Hanging Rock Swamp), Morton NP (The Vines), the Clyde Mountain area and Ballalaba (south of Braidwood) (DECC, 2005). This species occurs within the Hawkesbury–Nepean, Hunter–Central Rivers, Lachlan and Southern Rivers (NSW) Natural Resource Management Regions (DECC, 2005). All known populations of the species are small (DECC, 2005). The species grows in seasonally inundated peat, sandy wetland swamps (Meney & Pate, 1999) or depressions in sandy alluvium (Harden, 1993), sometimes growing with Sphagnum Moss (DECC, 2005). It also occurs in swales within tall forest and in Eucalyptus aggregata Woodland (DECC, 2005). The distribution of this species overlaps with the ‘Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone’ EPBC Act-listed threatened ecological community. Threats The main identified threats to B. longipes include road works and weed spraying (particularly in the Clyde Mountain and Ballalaba populations due to their close proximity to roads); and feral pigs (Sus scrofa) rooting for food, directly damaging the species and surrounding habitat (DECC, 2005). The main potential threats to B. longipes are changes to hydrology; animal predation or competition; fragmentation and loss of habitat (ANRA, 2007). Research Priorities Research priorities that would inform future regional and local priority actions include: • Design and implementation of a monitoring program, and Baloskion longipes Conservation Advice - Page 1 of 4 This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on: 26/3/2008 • Undertake survey work in suitable habitat and potential habitat to locate any additional populations/occurrences/remnants. Regional Priority Actions The following regional priority recovery and threat abatement actions can be done to support the recovery of Baloskion longipes. Habitat Loss, Disturbance and Modification • Identify populations of high conservation priority. • Manage threats to areas of vegetation that contain populations/occurrences/remnants of Baloskion longipes. • Ensure chemicals or other mechanisms used to eradicate weeds do not have a significant adverse impact on Baloskian longipes. • Ensure road widening and maintenance activities (or other infrastructure or development activities as appropriate) in areas where B. longipes occurs do not adversely impact on known populations (particularly for the Clyde Mountain and Ballalaba populations). • Manage any changes to hydrology that may result in changes to the water table levels, increased run-off, sedimentation or pollution. • Investigate formal conservation arrangements such as the use of covenants, conservation agreements or inclusion in reserve tenure. Animal Predation or Competition • Develop and implement a management plan for the control or eradication of feral pigs in the local region. Fire • Develop and implement a suitable fire management strategy for Baloskion longipes. • Identify appropriate intensity and interval of fire to promote seed germination. • 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 B. longipes within the local community. • Erect signs to alert management staff to the presence of this species (DECC, 2005). Enable Recovery of Additional Sites and/or Populations • 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. • Undertake appropriate seed collection and storage. • Undertake seed germination trials to determine the requirements for successful establishment. Local Priority Actions The following local priority recovery and threat abatement actions can be done to support the recovery of Baloskion longipes. 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. • Control access routes to suitably constrain public access to known sites on public land. • Suitably control and manage access on private land. • Minimise adverse impacts from land use at known sites. Baloskion longipes Conservation Advice - Page 2 of 4 This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on: 26/3/2008 • Manage any disruptions to water flows. • Protect populations through the development of conservation agreements and/or covenants. • Protect Ballalaba and Clyde Mountain populations from disturbance with bollards and signage (DECC, 2005). Invasive Weeds • Identify and remove weeds in the local area, which could become a threat to B. longipes, using appropriate methods (herbicide spraying near B. longipes should be avoided). • Manage sites to prevent introduction of invasive weeds, which could become a threat to B. longipes, using appropriate methods. Trampling, Browsing or Grazing • Prevent grazing pressure at known sites through exclusion fencing or other barriers. Animal Predation or Competition • Manage threats at known sites in reserve areas and on private property to control introduced pests such as feral pigs. • Continue baiting to control population numbers of introduced pests, particularly feral pigs. Fire • Implement an appropriate fire management regime for local populations. • Inform the Rural Fire Service about populations adjoining roads and tracks to ensure that plants are considered when fire suppression activities are planned (DECC, 2005). This list does not necessarily encompass all actions that may be of benefit to B. longipes, 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 • Kanangra–Boyd National Park Fire Management Strategy (NSW NPWS, 2006) and Plan of Management (NSW NPWS, 2001a), • Morton National Park Plan of Management (NSW NPWS, 2001b), • Blue Mountains National Park Fire Management Strategy (NSW NPWS, 2004), Plan of Management (NSW NPWS, 2001c) and draft Pest Management Strategy (NSW NPWS, 2007), and • Threat Abatement Plan for Predation, Habitat Degradation, Competition and Disease Transmission by Feral Pigs (DEH, 2005). Information Sources: Australian Natural Resource Atlas (ANRA) 2007, Biodiversity assessment - NSW south western slopes: species at risk and the threatening processes, viewed 11 March 2008, <http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/assessment/vic/ibra-nss-species-threats.html>. Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) 2005, Threatened species profile database, Dense Cord-rush - profile, viewed 11 March 2008, <http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10088>. Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) 2005, Threat abatement plan for the predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission by feral pigs, viewed 11 March 2008, <http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/pig/pubs/feral-pig-tap.pdf>. Harden, GJ (Ed.) 1993, Flora of New South Wales, Volume Four, University of NSW Press, Kensington. Meney, KA & Pate, JS 1999, Australian Rushes, University of WA, Nedlands. Baloskion longipes Conservation Advice - Page 3 of 4 This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on: 26/3/2008 New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW NPWS) 2001a, Kanangra-Boyd National Park Plan of Management, viewed 11 March 2008, <http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/pomFinalKanangra.pdf>. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW NPWS) 2001b, Morton National Park, Budawang National Park Plan of Management, viewed 11 March 2008, <http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/pomFinalMortonBudawang.pdf>. New South