INTERIMRECOVERYPLANNO.57
SHRUBLANDANDWOODLANDSONMUCHEA LIMESTONE
INTERIMRECOVERYPLAN
2000-2003
by
ValEnglishandJohnBlyth
February2000
Department of Conservation and
Land Management
DepartmentofConservationandLandManagementWesternAustralianThreatenedSpeciesandCommunitiesUnitPOBox51,Wanneroo,WA6946
FOREWORD
Interim Recovery Plans (IRPs) are developed within the framework laid down in Department of
ConservationandLandManagement(CALM)PolicyStatementsNos44and50
IRPsoutlinetherecoveryactionsthatarerequiredtourgentlyaddressthosethreatening processes most affectingtheongoingsurvivalofthreatenedtaxaorecologicalcommunities,andbegintherecoveryprocess.
CALMis committedto ensuringthatCriticallyEndangeredecologicalcommunitiesareconservedthroughthe preparation and implementation of Recovery Plans or Interim Recovery Plans and by ensuring that conservationactioncommencesassoonaspossibleandalwayswithinoneyearofendorsementofthatrank byCALM'sDirectorofNatureConservation.
ThisInterimRecoveryPlanwilloperatefrom28February2000butwillremainin forceuntilwithdrawnor replaced.It is intendedthat,if theecologicalcommunityis stillrankedCriticallyEndangered,thisIRPwillbe replacedbyafullRecoveryPlanafterthreeyears.
The provision of funds identified in this Interim Recovery Plan is dependent on budgetary and other constraintsaffectingCALM,aswellastheneedtoaddressotherpriorities.
InformationinthisIRPwasaccurateatFebruary1999.
SUMMARY
Name:ShrublandsandWoodlandsonMucheaLimestone
Description:ThecommunityoccursontheheavysoilsoftheeasternsideoftheSwanCoastalPlain.Where thebestdevelopedlimestoneoccurs,nearGingin,theplantcommunityislocatedonshallowblackclayor sandyclaysoilsonlimestone.Typicalandcommonnativespecies(fromKeigheryandKeighery1995)are thetree Casuarina obesa,themalleesEucalyptus decipiensand Eucalyptus foecunda andtheshrubs Melaleuca huegelii, Alyogyne huegelii var. huegelii, Grevillea curviloba ssp. incurva, Grevillea curvilobassp.curviloba,Grevilleaevanescens,Melaleucaacerosa,Melaleucahuegelii, andtheherb Thysanotusarenarius. Thefollowing exotic species arealsocurrently common; Hypochaeris glabra, Sonchusasper,Brizamaxima,Brizaminor,AnagallisarvensisandCentauriumerythraea.
CALMRegion(s): Swan CALM District(s):Perth Shire(s):Gingin,Chittering
RecoveryTeam: TobeestablishedasajointteamtodealwiththiscommunityandthePerthtoGingin ironstonecommunity.Proposedmembership:landholder,CALMPerth District(chair),CALMScience, WATSCU, planningofficer-ShireofGingin,FireandRescueService.TheRecovery Teamwillreport annuallytoCALM’sCorporateExecutive.
Currentstatus:Assessed21November1995asCriticallyEndangered.
Habitat requirements: The plant community occurs on soils mapped as Muchea Limestone or Plain limestonedepositsintheUrbanGeologyMapSeries(Anon1976aandb,1977,1978;Gozzard,1982aandb,
1983a andb,1986).Thesoilsarefrequentlymoundedupabovethesurroundingareaandarelikelytoreflect areas of spring activity in the past, where carbonates have precipitated out of solution (McArthur and Bettenay1960).
Theplantcommunitythatoccursonthesesoilsreflectstheunusualmixtureoflimestone,clayandsands. Manyof thespeciesarecommonlyassociatedwiththelimestonesoilsthatoccuronthecoast,anddonot generallyoccurfurtherinland.
TheMuchea Limestone soilshavepHlevelsofbetween 7.8to8.3,whichreflects thealkalinity ofthe limestoneinthesoilprofile.
Objective(s): Tomaintain orimprove theoverall condition oftheplant community associated withthe MucheaLimestonesoilsandreducethelevelof threattowardsdowngradingfromCriticallyEndangeredto Endangered.
Criteriaforsuccess:
Anincreaseintheareaofthiscommunityunderconservationmanagement.
Maintenanceintermsofdiversityandbasiccompositionofnativespecies(asdescribedinKeigheryand Keighery 1995; Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) 1996) as well as hydrological and biologicalprocesses,takingaccountofnaturalchangeofthecommunityovertime.
Improvementintermsofreductionofnumbersofexoticspecies(asdescribedinDEP1996)andofother threateningprocessesasdefinedinthisdocument.
Criteria forfailure: Significant loss of area or further modification of occurrences of the threatened ecologicalcommunity.
ecoveryactions:
1.EstablishRecoveryTeam / 10.Fenceoccurrences2.Clarifyandmonitorboundaries / 11.Accessfundingincentivesfor conservation
3.Liaisewithlandholders,managementbodiesandmanagers / 12.Seekto acquirecommunityand buffer
4.Installmarkers / 13.Monitorflora
5.DevelopFireManagementPlans / 14.Monitorweedpopulations
6.ImplementFireManagementPlans,implementdiebackhygiene / 15.Replant/ rehabilitate
7.Implementweedcontrol / 16.Monitorfordieback
8.Monitordepthandtimingofinundation / 17.Conductresearch
9. Disseminateinformation / 18.Reportonmanagementstrategies
1BACKGROUND
1.1History, defining characteristics of ecological community, andconservation significance
Theplantcommunityoccursonsoilsthataremappedas MucheaLimestoneor Plainlimestonedepositsin the UrbanGeologyMapSeries(Anon1976aandb,1977;1978;Gozzard1982a,1982b;1983a,1983b,1986). Thesoiltypeextends fromMuchea toBenger approximately parallel tothescarp, andmayhavebeen indicativeofa fracturelineassociatedwiththeDarlingScarp.Thesoilsarefrequentlymoundedupabovethe surrounding area and are likely to reflect areas of spring activity in the past, where carbonates have precipitatedoutofsolution(McArthurandBettenay1960).
Theplantcommunitythatoccursonthesesoilsreflectstheunusualmixtureoflimestone,clayandsands. Manyof thespeciesarecommonlyassociatedwiththeTamalalimestonesoilsthatoccuronthecoast,anddo not generallyoccurfurtherinland.Thecommunitiesthatoccuronthesesoilsappeartovaryasaresultof differencesintherelativeamountsofthemajorthreecomponents-limestone,clayandsand;withthedepth tolimestone inthesoilprofile; andwiththedegree ofinundation (Keighery andKeighery 1995-refer Appendix2).Theremnantsin bestconditionwherethelimestoneis mostdevelopedin thesoilsarerises dominatedbyMelaleucahuegeliishrublandor Eucalyptusdecipiensmallee(KeigheryandKeighery1995). Wetterareasonthesoiltypearedominated by Casuarina obesa woodland or Melaleuca shrublands (Keighery and Keighery 1995). Floristic analyses of occurrences on this soil type link to Spearwood communities-reflectingthelimestoneinthesoil;orwithplantcommunitiesoncalcareoussilts-reflecting boththeclayandthelimestoneinthesoils(DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection(DEP)1996).
ThevegetationonthesesoilsonceextendedfromGingintoBenger(McArthurand Bettenay,1960).The largestareasof thesoiltypeoccurrednorthwestof Ginginandthemostwesterlyoccurrencesarealongthe GinginBrook,inveryheavyblackclaysoils(KeigheryandKeighery1995).Churchward and McArthur (1980)refertothepresenceofmarlinthe Yanga, Mungalaand Bootinelandforms.The Mungala soils consistsofblackclaysandareassociatedwiththegreatestdevelopmentoflimestone.Inparticular,areserve onBootineRoadoccursontheseveryheavysoils,andaspecieslistforplotsinthissiteoccursatAppendix
3.
TheMucheaLimestonesoiltypeoccursontheeasternsideoftheSwanCoastalPlain,anareathatissome
97%cleared(CALM1990)astheheavysoilswereusefulforagriculturalpurposes.Anadditionalimpacton thecommunityhasbeentheminingofthelimestone.AtthetimeofreleaseoftheGibsonetal.(1994)report
- “AfloristicsurveyofthesouthernSwanCoastalPlain”nosignificantremnantsofthecommunityonthe MucheaLimestonesoilswereknownfrompubliclands.Sincethen,vegetatedoccurrencesfromnorthof Gingin(31o 14’S,115o 46’E) toPassmore Street, Gosnells have been found. This occurred during the integratedprocessofupdatingthe‘System6’Conservation ThroughReservesSystemRecommendations
(DEP1996)andtheMinistryforPlanningUrbanBushland StrategicPlan,resultinginPerth’s Bushplan (StateofWesternAustralia1998).Mostofthesevegetatedareasareextremelysmallordegraded,notall hadbeenmappedas MucheaLimestoneonthesoilsmaps,andsomeof thelesssignificantoccurrences identifiedhaveyettobeaddedtoCALM’sthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesdatabase.
SomeareasoftheMucheaLimestoneareseasonallyinundatedwithfreshwater.Thisinundationcouldbe duetoflowsofsurfacewateraccumulatingabovetheimpermeableclaysoils,butinsomecasesthesurface maybeincontactwiththegroundwatertable.
RemainingvegetationonMucheaLimestonesoilsismostlyalteredbygrazing,miningorotherdisturbances.It isunknowntowhatextentfirehasinfluencedthepresentstructureorcompositionofthevegetation.The grazing would almost certainly have increased the invasion of exotic species in occurrences of the community.
Thereare29 typicalandcommonnativespeciesthatareregularlyassociatedwiththesoiltype;onetree, eighteenshrubs,sixherbsandtwograsses(KeigheryandKeighery1995-seeAppendixone).
Twoofthe Grevillea taxathatoccurinthecommunity areCriticallyEndangered, (Grevillea curviloba subsp.incurvaand Grevilleacurvilobasubsp. Curviloba), whileGrevilleaevanescens isaPriority 1 taxon(refertoAppendix1fordefinitions).Anothertaxon,Haloragis aculeolata thatcommonlyoccursin thecommunity isaPriority 2species. Themajor threats tothecommunity areweed invasion, grazing, inappropriatefireregime,clearing,andpossiblychangestohydrologysuchassalinisationandalteredpatterns ofinundation. Dieback, as caused by Phytophthora species is not recorded from occurrences of the community,butmaybepresent.
Table1:Extentandlocationofoccurrences
OccurrenceNumber / Location / Estimatedarea1 / BootineRoad,Gingin;
Part1NatureReserve(A45035)vestedin theNational ParksandNatureConservationAuthority(NPNCA) Part2OwnedfreeholdbyStateof WA,to beaddedto reserveA45035 / 6ha
53 ha
2 / ReserveC2336Muchea(nowvestedin theNPNCA) / 0.06ha
3 / VinesStage5(privatelyowned) / 28 ha
4 / Privateland,BeermullahWestRoad,Gingin / 3.8ha
5 / YurineSwampNatureReserveA9676 / Nointactremnants
1.2Description of Occurrences
Occurrence1isonBootineRoad,Ginginandcontainsthemostsignificantareaofthecommunitytypein goodcondition.TheoccurrencewaslocatedbystaffoftheDepartmentofEnvironmental ProtectionandCALM,andhasnowbeenaddedto theconservationreservesystem,withtwopurchasesfundedjointlyby CALMandEnvironmentAustralia.
Thisoccurrenceisonveryheavyclaysoilsinanareawherethelimestoneiswelldeveloped.Vegetationon the sitewasflattenedbyrollingin1985bypreviousowners.Thefirstlotacquired,in1996(Part1inTable
1),wasof6haandhadbeenallowedtoregeneratenaturally.Intheabsenceofsubsequentdisturbancesuch asgrazingorcropping,thatlothasregeneratedwell.
Thesecondacquisition,a lotof64.7hacontainingabout53haofthelimestonecommunity(Part2 inTable1), abutsPart1. Thislateracquisitionhasbeenpartlysewndownto introducedpasturespeciesandsporadically grazedsincerollingandthereissignificantweedinvasioninsomeareas,althoughmuchnaturalregeneration isoccurring.
Occurrence2isaverysmallareaofthecommunityintheoldTownsitereserveinMuchea.Thereservewas vestedintheNationalParksandNatureConservationAuthorityin1996.ThisreserveandOccurrence5in YurineSwampNatureReserveappearto occurwherethelimestoneis at greaterdepthin thesoilprofile (KeigheryandKeighery1995).Priortotheareabecominga NatureReserve,limestonewasminedfromthe YurineSwampsite,leavingnointactremnantsofthecommunity(B.Keighery1 personalcommunication).If leftundisturbed,however,somedegreeofregenerationmayoccur.
Occurrence4onBeermullahWestRoadisoncomparablesoilsandisinhabitedbyasimilarsuiteofspecies tothoseattheBootineRoadreserve(KeigheryandKeighery1995). Theplantcommunitiesonthesesoils differincomposition fromthosethatoccuronsoilswherethelimestone appearstobeatgreaterdepth, containsmoresand,is geographicallyisolatedfromotherareascontainingthecommunitytype,orwherethe degreeofinundationdiffers(KeigheryandKeighery1995;seeAppendix2).
1BronwenKeighery,DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection,141StGeorgesTerrace,Perth,6000
Alloftheremainingoccurrencesareonprivateland.Occurrence3at‘TheVines’occursonsoilsthatare wetterandhavea highcomponentofsand(KeigheryandKeighery1995).Thisareaappearstohavebeen grazedhistoricallyandhasbeeninvadedbyweedsinsomeareas.Occurrence4onBeermullahRoadWest has also been grazed. The Vines occurrence contains the largest known population of the Critically EndangeredGrevilleacurvilobasubsp.curviloba(DEP1996).
1.3Biological and ecological characteristics
Our understanding ofvariation inthe floristics ofthe community with the different soil types, depth to limestoneandmoistureregimesis gleanedfromsparseinformationaboutareasthataresmallandfrequently degraded.ThefullvariationinthecommunitythatexistedpriortoEuropeansettlementmayneverbeknown, as thefullsuiteof variationmaynotberepresentedin theremainingoccurrences.Someoccurrencesof the community areseasonally inundated (surfacewaterinwettermonths), inparticular thoseontheheavier impermeableclayssuchasthereserveonBootineRoad(Occurrence1)andtheoccurrenceonprivateland onBeermullahRoadWest(Occurrence4).Someoftheplanttaxapresentareparticularlyadaptedtosuch waterregimes,forexampleCasuarinaobesaandMelaleucaviminea.
Manyof theplantspeciesthatfrequentlyoccurin thecommunityarecommonlyassociatedwithTamala limestoneon thecoastandmaybe obligatecalcicoles(speciesdependentonthepresenceoflimestone);eg Allocasuarina lehmaniana, Baeckea robusta, Comesperma integerrimum, Dodonaea aptera, Eucalyptus decipiens, Eucalyptus foecunda, Hibbertia spicata ssp. leptotheca, Lechenaultia linearioides,Melaleucaacerosa,Melaleuca huegelii,and Pimeleaferruginea (KeigheryandKeighery
1995).SometaxaappeartoberestrictedtotheMucheaLimestoneorsimilarsoils,egGrevilleacurviloba ssp. curvilobaand Grevillea curvilobassp. incurva (Keighery and Keighery 1995). Removal of the limestone from the soils, as occurs when the limestone is mined, is likely to result in conditions being unsuitableforregenerationofsuchplants(eg.Occurrence5).
SoilanalysisundertakenonthereserveonBootineRoadindicatespHofbetween7.8to8.3.Thealkalinity resultsfromthepresenceof thelimestonein thesoilprofile.Anothercharacteristicof theMucheaLimestone soilsatGinginislownitrogenandphosphoruslevels.
1.4Hydrology
Hydrological data on the Muchea limestone community are from personal observations of those who identifiedthecommunity,andfrominformationonthehydrogeologyof theSwanCoastalPlainin Davidson (1995).Intheareaswhereinundationdoesoccur,inparticular,ontheheaviersoils(Occurrences1and4), theMuchealimestonecommunitycontainslimitedsurfacewaterduringthewettermonths.
Thetypicaloccurrenceonthesesoilsisseasonallyinundatedinwinterforaperiodofaroundthreemonths. Theheavysoilsassociatedwithsomeoccurrencesdrytocrackingclaysinsummer.
A trendoffallingwatertablesin thegeneralareais evidentsincearound1976(Greay1993).Asthereisa correspondingdeclineinannualrainfallthisgeneralfallinthewatertablemaybepresumedtobearesultof thisdecline.Itispossiblethatdrawdownofthesuperficialaquifer—theGnangaraMound—couldalsohave hadaneffectonoccurrencessouthofGinginBrook.Conversely,theareaischaracterisedbymuchvalued heavysoils,whichwerehistoricallyhighlyclearedforagriculture.Clearingis likelyto haveincreasedsurface runoffandrechargeofthegroundwaterinthelocalarea.Alteredsurfaceflowand/oralterationoftheheight ofthelocalwatertablemaychangethelengthoftheperiodordepthofponding.
Salinesoilswererecordedfromthereserveon Bootine Road(Occurrence 1)(Agro-nutritional Research Laboratory,unpublishedreport).Thisisprobablya resultofsecondarysalinisationandevaporationofponded surfacewatercomingfromadjacentclearedlandandperhapscarriedbythecreekadjacenttothecommunity atthissite.Theobservedsalinitycouldalsooriginatefromsalinegroundwater.
Changestothewatertablecouldhavefurtherimplicationsforsalinisation,particularlywheregroundwateris closetothesurfaceandcontainssalinewater.Davidson(1995)indicatesthatgroundwater is0-3metres belowthesurfaceinSeptember- OctoberatOccurrences2and3.However,thelevelsofsalinityinthat groundwaterarelow-250-500milligramsperlitretotaldissolvedsolids(mg/LTDS)inthesuperficialaquifer thatunderliesOccurrence2, and500-1,000mg/LTDSunderOccurrence3. Thisis quitefreshwater.Other occurrenceswereoutsideDavidson’sstudyarea.AreasoverlyingfreshgroundwaterontheSwanCoastal Plainareprobablyassociatedwithlowriskofsalinisation(Davidson1995).
1.5Threatening processes
Clearing
Clearingforagriculturehasbeenextensiveontheheavysoilsontheeasternsideof theSwanCoastalPlain, wheretheMucheaLimestonesoilsoccur.About97%of allvegetationintheareawasclearedhistorically (CALM1990),hencethistypehassufferedalmosttotaldestruction.
Mining
Historically,theMucheaLimestonesoilshavebeenextensivelyminedforlimestone.SouthofGosnells,it appears that all occurrences have been mined (Keighery and Keighery 1995). Plants that are obligate calcicoles are unlikely to regenerate once the limestone is removed from the soil profile. In addition, regenerationtechniquessuchasreturningthetopsoilandcontrollingweedswouldnothavebeendeveloped whenmuchofthiscommunitywasmined.Hence,regenerationisnotlikelytohavereturnedthecommunity toanythingapproachingitsoriginalstate.
The occurrenceinYurineSwamp,whichisnowaNatureReserve,hasbeenhighlyalteredbymining.As mentioned,nointactremnantsof thecommunityarelocatedin thisreserve(B.Keigherypersonal communication).However,withminimaladditionaldisturbanceandwithweedcontrol,somecomponentsof theoriginalplantcommunitymayreturn.
Weedinvasion
Disturbances such as fires and grazing can predispose areas to weed invasion if weed propagules are present.Alloftheoccurrencesofthiscommunityareclosetoweedsourcessuchasurbanoragricultural areasandwouldbevulnerable toweedinvasion following anydisturbance. Weedsarealsolikelytobe favouredbyincreasednutrientlevelsfromanimaldroppings,as localspeciesaregenerallyadaptedto more impoverishedsoils.
Therearetracksthroughmostoccurrencesof thecommunity.Weedshaveinvadedto varyingextentsalong thesetracksandsuchareasshouldbe consideredpriorityareasforweedcontrol.In particular,pilesof soil scrapedfromtracksgenerallycontainhighconcentrationsofweedsandactasasourceofweedinvasion. Suchpilesshouldbeavoidedwhentracksarecleared,orberemovedwheretheyalreadyexist.
Aweedcontrolprogramwouldbenecessarytomaintainorimprovethecurrentconditionofoccurrencesof thecommunity inthelongterm.PanettaandHopkins(1991)statethattheaimsofweedcontrolareto maintainthepre-invasionconditionof thehabitat(prevention);controlor arrestongoingweedinvasion (intervention); andreversethedegradedconditionofthehabitatwhereapplicable(rehabilitation). Aweed controlprogramwouldinvolvethefollowingsteps(adaptedfromPanettaandHopkins1991):
1.Accuratelymappingtheboundariesofweedpopulations.
2.Selectinganappropriateherbicideorothermethodofweedcontrolafterdeterminingwhichweeds arepresent.
3.Controllingthoseweedsthatposethegreatestthreattothecommunityintheearlystagesofinvasion wherepossible;eginvasiveperennialgrasses,Watsonia.
4.Rehabilitatingthevegetationthroughreintroductionoflocalnativespecieswhereareasarenolonger capableofregeneratingfollowingweedcontrol.
Grazing
Grazingofthecommunity islikelytohavecausedalterationstothespeciescomposition bytheselective grazing of edible species, the introduction of weeds and nutrients, trampling and general disturbance. Continuedgrazingwouldprobablyresultin continuingmodificationof thespeciescompositionandcommunity processes.
Alteredfireregimes
FiresarelikelytohaveasignificantaffectonthevegetationcompositioninMediterraneanecosystems(Gillet al.1981).It is alsolikelythatthefireregimeinthecommunityhasbeenextensivelymodifiedsinceEuropean settlement tomore frequent fires, especially hotones. Most Mediterranean ecosystems arelikely tobe adapted tofireandindeedmayrequireaparticular firefrequency toassistregeneration. Ifthislevelis exceededhowever,speciesthatareobligateseedersmaynothavesufficienttimetoflowerandproduce seed.Ifthetimebetweenfiresistoolong,obligateseedersmaysenesceand beunable toregenerate. Therefore,firesmustoccurat appropriateintervalsto maintainthecompositionof plantcommunities.Asthis communityisnotwellstudied,littleisknownofthecommunity’s requirementsintermsoffireregimeto maintainspeciescomposition.
Alldisturbance in remnant vegetation is likely to result in increasing weed invasion, particularly where remnants aresmall.Therefore, firefrequency shouldbeminimised unlessresearchindicatestheneedto increasefirefrequency. Inaddition,theriskoffireisincreasedbythepresenceofgrassyweedsinthe understorey,astheyarelikelytobemoreflammablethanoriginalnativespeciesintheherblayer.
Hydrologicalchanges
Increased clearing would be expected to result in increased runoff and an increase in recharge to the groundwater table, while on the other hand uncontrolled extraction from irrigation bores may lower groundwaterlevels,especiallyin summer.Thiswouldbesignificantin occurrencesof thecommunitywhere surfacewaterandgroundwaterareincontact.Inthesesites,alteredperiodsordepthsofpondingmayaffect the timing of growth of herbs in the understorey, and may also affect the species composition of the communitybyfavouringdifferentplantspecies.
Pollutionof thesurfacewaterswithanimaldroppingsor fertiliserswouldincreasenutrientlevelsandhence favourweedinvasion.
Salinisation
Salinisationmayincreaseasaresultofevaporationofsurfacewater,especiallyatthoseoccurrencesnorthof theGinginBrookandnotinfluencedbythefreshgroundwateroftheGnangaraMound.If increasedponding occursinthecommunityduetoclearingorurbanisationinthecatchment,evaporationofa greatervolumeof watermayresultin largeramountsofresidualsalt.Thisis especiallytrueforclaysoils,likethoseat themore northernoccurrences,whichinhibitrainfallinfiltrationandresultin highevaporationratesandconcentrationof salts(Davidson1995).
Thelevelsofsalinityinthecommunityshouldbemonitoredtodetermineifsalinisationposesamajorthreatto thecommunity,especiallyatoccurrencesnorthofGinginBrook.Remedialactionssuchasreplantingwith deeprootedvegetationinstrategicpartsofthecatchmentmaybenecessaryif monitoringindicatessecondary salinisationisaproblem.
Diseaseintroduction
It is notknownif thecommunitytypeis susceptibletodiebackfromPhytophthoraspecies,orotherdiseases. Riskofintroductionofdiseaseshouldthereforebeminimisedwhereverthecommunityoccursbyensuring goodhygieneprocedures.Thiswouldinvolvewashdownofanyequipmentusedadjacenttothecommunity.
Erosionbywindandwater
Erosionbywindandwatermayalsooccurfollowingremovalofvegetationbygrazing,clearing,mining,or fire,especiallywherethecommunityislocatedonlightersoils,suchasOccurrence3.
1.6Conservation status
This community met the following criterion for Critically Endangered (CR) ecological communities on
21/11/95(fromEnglishandBlyth1997):
Bii)Currentdistribution islimitedandthereareveryfewoccurrences, eachofwhichissmalland/or isolatedandextremelyvulnerabletoknownthreateningprocesses.
1.7Strategy for recovery
Toidentify,andinfluencethemanagementoftheareasinwhichthecommunityoccurs,somaintainingnatural biologicalandnon-biologicalattributesofthesitesandthecurrentareacoveredbythecommunity.
Toconduct appropriate research intotheecological characteristics ofthecommunity todevelop further understandingaboutthemanagementactionsrequiredtomaintainorimproveitscondition.
2.RECOVERY AIM AND CRITERIA
TomaintainorimprovetheoverallconditionoftheMucheaLimestonecommunityandreducethe levelofthreatwiththeaimofreclassifyingitfromCriticallyEndangeredtoEndangered.
2.1Criteria for success
Anincreaseintheareaandnumberofoccurrencesofthiscommunityunderconservationmanagement. Maintenanceintermsofdiversityandbasiccompositionofnativespecies(asdescribedinKeigheryand
Keighery1995;DEP1996)aswellashydrologicalandbiologicalprocesses,takingaccountofnaturalchange
ofthecommunityovertime.
Improvementintermsofreductionofnumbersofexoticspecies(asdescribedinDEP1996)andofother threateningprocessesasdefinedabove.
2.2Criteria for failure
Significantlossofareaorfurthermodificationofoccurrencesofthethreatenedecologicalcommunity.
3.GENERALMANAGEMENT ACTIONS REQUIRED
Note:Theresponsible authorityisfrequently listedastherelevantCALMDistrict.Thisreferslargelyto initiating and guiding actions. However, ingeneral therelevant CALM District, incooperation with the WesternAustralianThreatenedSpeciesandCommunitiesUnit(WATSCU)andthe RecoveryTeamhas the primaryresponsibilityforsecuringfundsforrecoveryactions.
3.1Establisha Recovery Team
Tobeestablishedasa jointteamtodealwiththiscommunityandthePerthtoGinginironstonecommunity. Proposedmembership:landholder,CALMPerthDistrict(chair),CALMScience,WATSCU,planningofficer
-ShireofGingin,FireandRescueService.TheRecoveryTeamwillreportannuallytoCALM’sCorporate
Executive.
Responsibility:CALM(WATSCU)
Cost:Nil
Completiondate:Year1
3.2Clarify and continue to monitor the extent and boundaries of the community
Occurrencesshouldbe monitoredeverytwoyears.Boundariescanbe determinedfromcurrentaerial photographs andminimalonsitechecking.Thisinformation shouldbeaddedtothethreatened ecological communitydatabaseasrecommendedinEnglishandBlyth(1997).EnglishandBlyth(1997)alsorecommend theestablishment ofaGeographic Information Systemdatabase forinformation onthreatened ecological communities. When this isavailable, boundary information foroccurrences ofthecommunity should be included.
The community is considered to have been well searched for (DEP 1996; Gibson et al. 1994). The boundaries of most occurrences have been mapped (from plot data and inference from current aerial photographsbyV.English-unpublisheddata),
Thediscoveryofadditionalunclearedareasofthecommunityseemsunlikelyasitisconsideredtohavebeen wellsearchedforinlikelyareasduringtheSystem6Updatesurvey(DEP1996;StateofWesternAustralia
1998);andthe surveyundertakenfor the Gibsonetal.,(1994)study.However,thosenewoccurrencesfound duringtheSystem6 Updatesurvey(DEP1996)stillremaintobeenteredonthethreatened communities database.
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict,WATSCU)
Cost:$300everysecondyear
Completiondate:CompletedforOccurrence1.Othersongoing
3.3Liaisewithcurrentowners,landmanagersandotherinterestedgroupstoimplement recommendationsheldinthisIRP
Some of the occurrences of the community are privately owned. The involvement of land managers,landholders,localcommunitygroupsandindustryintherecoveryofthecommunitywhereverpossibleandpracticalisthereforeessentialtotherecoveryprocess.
StakeholdersincludeownersofprivatelandonwhichthecommunityoccursandCALM’sPerth DistrictwhichmanagesthecommunityonreservesvestedintheNationalParksandNatureConservationAuthority(NPNCA).
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict;WATSCU)
Cost:$2,500forallliaison(notincludingvehiclecosts)
Completiondate:Ongoing
3.4Install markers to indicate the location of the community
CALMmark,or encouragetheappropriateauthoritiesto marktheoccurrenceswhichoccuralongsidetracks, roads and firebreaks with thesame pegs asused tomark threatened flora, toreduce thelikelihood of
accidentaldestruction. Thisactionisrecommended inEnglishandBlyth(1997)andwillbeincludedina futurepolicyonThreatenedEcologicalCommunitiesbeingpreparedbyCALM.
Responsibility: / CALM(PerthDistrict;WATSCU);inconsultationwithownersoflandcontainingthecommunity
Cost: / $600
Completiondate: / Year1
3.5Design and implementaprogram formonitoring flora of the shrublands and woodlands on Muchea Limestone
Datacollectedshouldincludeweedlevels,plantspeciesdiversity,andspeciescompositionofflora. Occurrences should bemonitored everytwoyearstoprovide information oncondition. Thisinformation
shouldbeaddedtothethreatened ecological community database asrecommended inEnglishandBlyth
(1997).
TwofloristicplotsoccurintheBootineRoadreserve(butnoneintherecentlyacquiredareaintendedtobe addedtothereserve),andthereisoneplotineachofOccurrences2,3 and4 (DEP1996).Permanentplots shouldbeputintoOccurrence5,andtherecentlyacquiredportionofOccurrence1.Allnativeandweed specieshavebeenrecordedforallplots,butdensityorcovervaluesforeachspecieswerenotincludedin thesedata.Thisadditionalinformationwouldbeessentialfordeterminingchangesovertime(egasaresultof toofrequentfireorthesuccessofarehabilitation strategy).Lineinterceptandphotographic methodsas describedinHopkins et al. (1987) could beutilised tomonitor these parameters, using permanent plots alreadyinplacefromothersurveys(DEP1996).
Datashouldbeenteredona databaseprogramsuchasthatusedbyGibsonetal.(1994)andunknownplant speciesshouldbecollected(exceptidentifiedDeclaredRareFlora).Followingthesecondmonitoringperiod, datashouldbeanalysedandcompared,andincorporatedintoafullRecoveryPlanifdeveloped.
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict;WATSCU)
Cost:$4,000everysecondyearformonitoringthesixplotscurrentlyinthecommunity,and twoadditionalplotsintheportionofOccurrence1stilltobeaddedtothenature reserveandinOccurrence5
Completiondate:Ongoing
3.6Develop and Implementa Fire Management Strategy
3.6.1Developandimplementfiremanagementplansthatencompassthefollowing(3.6.1-3.6.4)
andincludeanannualfiremonitoringandreportingschedule
Thereisaneedforresearchintorecoveryofthecommunityfromwildfire(tobecompletedunderAction3.5
- floramonitoring),andtodeterminetheimplicationsoffindingsformanagement.Thiswouldalsoinclude developingafirehistorymapoftheoccurrences,whichisupdatedannually.Aslittleisknownoftheresponse ofthecommunitytofire,noplannedburnshouldbeimplementedforthelifeofthisIRP,unlessresultsof futurestudiessuggestitisnecessaryandurgent.
AFireManagement Planhasbeendeveloped forTalbotRoadreserve23953inStratton.Itspecifiesno plannedburnswithoutconsultationwithCALM,noconstructionofnewfirebreaks,a fire-fightingstrategy, implementationofdiebackhygieneforallvehicles,routineweedmonitoring,andmaintenanceoffirebreaks. ItalsorecordsthelocationofsignificantareassuchaslocationsofDeclaredRareFlora(DRF)andPriority taxa,andthreatenedecologicalcommunities.A similarplanshouldbedevelopedforalloccurrencesof this community,usingtheplanforTalbotRoadreserveasaguide.CALM’sPerthandMundaringDistrictsare
developingFireManagementPlansforallremnantsintheirdistrictsthatcontainoccurrencesofthreatened ecologicalcommunities.CloseliaisonwithallstakeholdersisrequiredtodevelopFireManagementPlans.
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict;WATSCU);inliaisonwithallstakeholders
Cost:$4,250forpreparationofguidelines
Completiondate:Year2
3.6.2Ensure maintenance of strategic firebreaks to help prevent fire spreading to the community
Maintenance of existing firebreaks is appropriate where firebreaks are already constructed, unlessmaintenance islikelytocausespreadorintensification ofdieback orotherwise degrade thecommunity.Carefuluseofherbicides shouldbeconsidered asanalternative methodofmaintenance offirebreakstominimisesoilmovementandriskofdiebackspread.NonewfirebreaksshouldbeconstructedorexistingbreaksupgradedaroundoccurrencesofthiscommunityonCALM-managedlandswithouttheapprovaloftheDirectorofNatureConservation.Nonewfirebreaksshouldbeconstructedwithinthiscommunity.
LocalCALMstaffshouldbeinvolvedinplanningfirebreakconstructionandmaintenanceforalloccurrences
ofthecommunity.
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict)
Cost:Costoffirebreaks$1,800pa;costsofliaisonincludedin3.3
Completiondate:Ongoing.
3.6.3Liaisewithsurroundinglandholderstoensurestrategiesforfuelreductionontheirlands donotimpactthecommunity
Forexample, burningatinappropriate timeswhenfiresarelikelytospreadtothiscommunity shouldbe avoided.
Responsibility: / CALM(PerthDistrict)inliaisonwithownersoflandcontaining,oradjacentto,thecommunity
Cost: / Costsofliaisonincludedin3.3
Completiondate: / Ongoing
3.6.4Ensurefiresuppressionstrategydoesnotimpactthecommunity
Ensure fire-fighting authorities recognise the importance of not constructing new tracks during their operations, including duringwildfires. Theuseofheavymachinery tocreatenew firebreaks within the community shouldbeavoided, asadditional disturbance wouldencourage furtherweedinvasion. Further, chemicalsthatmaybetoxicto thecommunityshouldnotbeused.Guidelinesforappropriatefiresuppression actionssimilarto thosedevelopedforTalbotRoadreserve(refer3.6.1)shouldbedevelopedforareasthat containthiscommunity
A localCALMstaffmembershouldbepresentduringwildfiresandcontrolledburnsin remnantsthatcontain occurrencesofthiscommunity,toadviseonprotectingtheconservationvaluesofthecommunity.
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict)responsibleforimplementingthisActionforOccurrences1,2 and5.Landownersresponsibleforactioninoccurrencesonprivateland;CALM (PerthDistrict)responsibleforliaisonwithlocalBushFireBrigadesandFireand RescueService
Cost:Costsofpreparationofguidelinesandliaisonincludedin3.6.1;additionalfundsfor
CALMDistrictstafftoattendfiresinthecommunity-$300pa
Completiondate:Ongoing
3.7Assess and monitor weed populations
FloristicdataheldinDEP(1996)mayhelpdetermineweedsthatposethegreatestthreatasallweedspecies thatoccurin plotshavebeenrecorded.Somesignificantweedsin occurrencesalsomaynotoccurin plots, however.DEP(1996)dataincludeddetailedspecieslists,butcoverordensityinformationwerenotreported forweeds.Populations ofweedsthatareahighpriorityforcontrolshouldbeaccurately mappedforall occurrencesandappropriateherbicidesorothermethodofweedcontroldetermined.
Responsibility: / CALM(PerthDistrict)Cost: / WeedmonitoringincorporatedintoAction3.5;$1,500everysecondyearformapping
oftheboundariesofweedsspecies
Completiondate: / Ongoing
3.8Implement weed control, and replanting where necessary
Initialstagesofrehabilitation shouldinvolvecontrolofperennial weeds,andtheirreplacement withlocal species,whereappropriate.Highpriorityactionsmayalsoincludetheremovalofpilesofsoilscrapedfrom tracksthatcontainhighconcentrationsofweedsandactasasourceofweedinvasion.Localspeciessuitable forreplantingshouldbeidentifiedfromplotdataforeachoccurrenceheldinDEP(1996)andfromtheresults ofAction3.5.
Thehighestpriorityshouldbecontrollingweedsthatposethegreatestthreattothecommunityintheearly stagesof invasionwherepossible(eginvasiveperennialgrassesandWatsonia).Rehabilitationthrough reintroduction oflocal native species may be necessary ifareas are no longer capable ofregenerating followingweedcontrol.
Onlyseedfromthesameoccurrenceshouldbe usedforrehabilitation.Noseedfromotherareasshouldbe introducedintooccurrences.
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict)
Cost:$3,000paforweedcontrol;costsofreplantingandrehabilitationtobedetermined
Completiondate:Ongoing
3.9Monitor salinity and groundwater levels, and depth and timing of inundation
Occurrences ofthecommunity maybeatriskfromsalinisation duetorisinggroundwater andincreased pondingasaresultofclearingofthecatchment. Monitoring salinityand ponding in occurrences would indicateifremedialaction wasnecessaryinthecatchment. Thismightincludestrategicplantingof deep rootedvegetationtoincreasewaterusage.
Groundwater levelsandsalinityareroutinelymonitored bytheWaterandRiversCommission (WRC)in specificareasanddataforareascloseto thecommunityshouldbeanalysed.ThelocalLandcareDistrict Committees (LCDCs) andAgriculture WesternAustralia mayalsohavedataongroundwater levelsand qualityforareasnearthecommunity.
Thedepthandtimingofinundationforoccurrencesthatexperienceseasonalinundationshouldbemeasured bycheckingagainstadepthgaugeatspecificintervals(sayweeklyduring winter,andmonthlythereafter). Thiswouldonlybepossiblewheresurfacewateraccumulatesinoccurrences(Occurrences1,4and5).
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict);liaisonwiththeWRC,AgricultureWesternAustraliaand
LCDCs
Cost:$1,500paformeasuringdepthandtimingofinundation(Occurrences1,4and5)
Completiondate:Ongoing
3.10Ensure dieback hygiene
Occurrenceshavenotbeentestedforpresenceofdieback.Thesusceptibilityofthecommunitytothedisease is not known. Risk of introduction of disease should therefore be minimised by ensuring good hygiene procedures.Thiswouldinvolvewashdownofanyequipmentusedonexistingtracksthroughthecommunity, andrestrictingaccessbyvehiclesandmachinerytodrysoilconditions.
Standard practice shouldtherefore bethatallvehicles entering tracksthrough remnants thatcontain the communitybefreeofsoilandplant-propagules.Novehiclesshouldbepermittedontoundisturbedbushland wherethecommunityoccurs.
Responsibility: / Allpersonnelusingmachineryintheoccurrences;liaisontobeundertakenbyCALM(PerthDistrict)
Cost: / Costsofliaisonincludedin3.3;othercoststobeunderwrittenbyuserofmachinery
Completiondate: / Ongoing
3.11Disseminate information about the community
Topreventaccidentaldestructionofthecommunity,andgainpublicsupportforitsconservation,it is recommendedthatinformationaboutthecommunitybeprovidedbylocalCALMstaffto allstakeholders includinglandholders,andmanagersoflandcontainingthecommunity.Thiswouldincludeinformationfrom the threatened ecological community database, and maps indicating the location of the community. Informationaboutprivatelandshouldonlybeprovidedto thelandholder,unlesspermissionis grantedbythe landholdertoallowwiderdisseminationofthedata.ThisactionisrecommendedinEnglishandBlyth(1997).
LocalCALMstaffshouldensureregularliaisonwithownersof landcontainingthecommunityto ensure threatenedecologicalcommunityinformationisuptodate.
A publicitycampaignutilisingsignsonsite,localmediaandposterdisplaysin prominentareasshouldbe undertaken to encourage awareness about this threatened ecological community. Information on the communitywasincludedinanissueofLandscope(English etal.1996) andreprints ofthisarticle were reprintedandwidelydistributed.
Responsibility:CALM(CorporateRelationsDivisionPerth;PerthDistrict;WATSCU)
Cost:$2,000
Completiondate:Ongoing
3.12Determine if dieback representsa threat to the community, and if so, determine priority areas for treatment
Surveyfordiebackin thecommunity.Undertakebaselineandongoingmonitoringof theextent,impact and boundaries ofdieback inalloccurrences ofthecommunity anddetermine iftherearepriority areasfor diebacktreatment.
Priorityareasfordiebacktreatmentin thecommunityshouldbedeterminedusingCALM’sDiebackProtocol (K. Vear2 personal communication). Data on dieback presence and impact, and future biodiversity implications(eglossordeclineofDRForPrioritytaxa,structurallyorfunctionallyimportanttaxa)arelikelyto beimportantdeterminantsofthepriorityoftreatmentofindividualoccurrences.
2Kevin Vear,DiebackCoordinator,CALM,HaymanRoad,Como,6152.
Diebackhasnotbeenrecordedinthiscommunity,butmaybepresent.Ifdiebackisdetected,anydieback front should bemonitored atleast every twoyears insummer andflagging marking thefront replaced regularly.Floristicplotinformation(refer3.5)wouldprovideusefulmonitoringdata.
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict)
Cost:$5,000
Completiondate:Year1
3.13Design and conduct research
Researchshouldbedesignedtoincreasetheunderstandingofthebiologicalandecologicalcharacteristicsof thecommunitytoassistfuturemanagementdecisions.Suchresearchcouldinclude:
1.Theimpactofweedsonthecommunity.
2.Theroleofdisturbanceinregenerationofthecommunity.
3.Thedevelopmentofamonitoringsystem.Protocolswillbedevelopedbasedonrecommendationsheldin
EnglishandBlyth(1997).
4.Significantbiologicalprocessesinthecommunitysuchaspollinationbiology,germinationrequirements, longevityandtimetakentoreachmaturityofimportantplanttaxainthecommunity.
5.Monitoringofwaterdepth,timinganddepthofinundation,andwaterqualityinthecommunity
Responsibility:CALM(CALMScience);PerthDistrict;WATSCU)
Cost:RecoveryTeamtodeterminecostsandlikelyfundsavailablethroughothersources andtorecommendaresearchprogramandsourcesoffundstoCALM
Completiondate:Tobedetermined
3.14Report on success of management strategies for the community
Reportingwillbe partof annualreportspreparedbyRecoveryTeamsforCALM’sCorporateExecutive.The finalreportwillbepresentedaspartoforcomplementarytothefullrecoveryplanforthecommunityifa full recoveryplanisnecessary.
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict;WATSCU)
Cost:Nil
Completiondate:EndofYear3
Specificconservation management actionsrequired -reserveon Bootine Road, Reserve 2336
Muchea,andYurineSwampNatureReserveNumber9676-Occurrences1,2and5.
3.15Upgrade fencing on reserves where necessary
Theperimeter fencing onreserves thatcontain thecommunity should beupgraded where necessary, to ensurestockareexcludedandvehicleaccesscanbelimitedtomanagementpurposesonly.
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict)
Cost:FencingforBootineRoadreserve(Occurrence1)-$4,000;gateandupgradeof fencingforMucheaTownsitereserve(Occurrence2)-$1,000
Completiondate:Year1
Specificmanagementactions-Occurrence4-privatefarmland,BeermullahRoad,Gingin.
3.16Encourage and assist landowner to access available incentives and mechanisms for conserving the MucheaLimestone community
Accessincentivesfor protection,includingthe RemnantVegetationProtectionSchemeandothersources,to ensurelongtermprotectionofthecommunity.
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict;WATSCU);liaisonwithlandholders
Cost:Costsofliaisonincludedaspartof3.3
Completiondate:Ongoing
3.17Seektoacquireoccurrencesifthecommunityisnotbeingsuccessfullymanagedfor conservation, or if they become available
IfmanagementforconservationseemsunlikelyunderrecommendationsinthisIRP,oriflandthatcontains thecommunitybecomesavailable,CALMseekfundsandseektonegotiatepurchaseoftheoccurrenceand anadequatebufferareaif requiredanddeclaretheareaClassA reserveforthepurposeof‘Conservationof FloraandFauna’vestedin theNationalParksandNatureConservationAuthority(NPNCA).Boundariesof areastobeacquiredshouldbedeterminedfromAction3.2.
Responsibility: / CALM(LandAdministrationSection;PerthDistrict;WATSCU);EnvironmentAustralia
Cost: / Marketpriceoflandattimeofpurchase
Completiondate: / Completedforwhatwillbea70.7haNatureReserveonBootineRoad.Other
acquisitionsifandwhennecessary
3.18Fence community to ensure stock are excluded and vehicle access can be limited to management purposes only
Occurrence4islikelytorequireabout1.2kilometresoffencing.Fencingrequirementsshouldbeaccurately determinedfollowingsurveyunderAction3.2.
Responsibility:CALM(PerthDistrict)
Cost:Approximately$4,800
Completiondate:Year1
Specificactionsrequires-VinesStage5developmentarea-Occurrence3.
3.19Reserve Occurrence 3
NegotiatewithlandholdertohaveMucheaLimestoneoccurrence,anda suitablebufferareaifnecessary, declaredClassAreserveforConservation ofFloraandFaunavestedintheNationalParksandNature ConservationAuthority(NPNCA).
Responsibility:DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection(DEP),MinistryforPlanning,ShireofSwan, CALM(PerthDistrict;LandAdministrationSection);liaisonwithlandholder
Cost:Costsofliaisonincludedin3.3
Completiondate:Tobedetermined
3.20Determine appropriate location of fences for Occurrence3
Ensurefencesprotectthecommunity(andsuitablebufferareaifrequired)andensurethatvehicleaccessto theMucheaLimestonecommunitycanbelimitedtomanagementpurposesonly.
Responsibility: / CALM(PerthDistrict)inliaisonwithlandholder,DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection(DEP),MinistryforPlanning(MFP),ShireofSwan
Cost: / Costsofliaisonincludedin3.3;costsoffencingtobedetermined
Completiondate: / Tobedetermined
Table2:Summaryofrecoveryactions
RecoveryAction / Occurrences / Responsibility / CompletiondateEstablishRecoveryTeam / All / CALM(WATSCU) / Year1
Clarifyandmonitorboundaries / All / CALM(PerthDistrict,WATSCU) / Ongoing
Liaisewith landholders, managementbodies and managers / All / CALM(PerthDistrict,WATSCU) / Ongoing
Installmarkers / All / CALM(PerthDistrict,WATSCU) / Year1
DevelopFireManagement
Plans / All / CALM(Perth,District,WATSCU)
in consultationwithallstakeholders / Developmentof Fire ManagementPlanshas begun.Tobecompletedin Year1.
ImplementFireManagement Plans,implementdieback hygiene / All / CALM(PerthDistrict),landowners / Ongoing
Implementweedcontrol / All / CALM(PerthDistrict) / Ongoing
Disseminateinformation / All / CALM(CorporateRelations
Division,PerthDistrict,WATSCU) / Ongoing
Fenceoccurrences / 1,2,3,4 / CALM(PerthDistrict) / Year1 forOccurrences1, 2,
4.Timingtobedetermined forOccurrence3.
Accessfundingincentivesfor conservation / 4 / CALM(PerthDistrict;WATSCU) / Ongoing
Seekto acquirecommunity andbuffer / 3,4 / CALM(PerthDistrict,Land AdministrationSection;WATSCU); EnvironmentAustralia / Year1
Monitorflora / All / CALM(PerthDistrict,WATSCU) / Ongoing
Monitorweedpopulations / All / CALM(Perth,District) / Ongoing
Replant/rehabilitate / Coststobe determined / CALM(PerthDistrict) / Ongoing
Monitordepthandtimingof inundation / 1, 4,5 / CALM(PerthDistrict);liaisonwith WRC,LCDCsandAgriculture WesternAustralia / Ongoing
Monitorfordieback / All / CALM(PerthDistrict) / Year1
Conductresearch / All / CALM(CALMScience,Perth
District,WATSCU) / Nodateset
Reportonmanagement strategies / All / CALM(PerthDistrict;WATSCU) / Year3
Table3: Summaryofcostsforeachrecoveryaction
RecoveryActionEstablishRecoveryTeam / 1998 / 1999 / 2000
Clarifyandmonitorboundaries / 300 / 300
Liaisewithlandholders,management bodiesandmanagers
Installmarkers / 1,000
600 / 1,000 / 500
DevelopFireManagementPlans / 2,250 / 2,000
ImplementFireManagementPlans, implementdiebackhygiene / 2,100 / 2,100 / 2,100
Implementweedcontrol / 3,000 / 3,000 / 3,000
Disseminateinformation
FenceOccurrence1
FenceOccurrences2 and4
FenceOccurrence3
Accessfundingincentivesfor conservation
Seekto acquireOccurrences3and4 / 500
$4,000
~5,800
Tobedetermined
-
Tobedetermined / 1,500
Monitorflora / 4,000 / 4,000
Monitorboundariesofweed populations
Inspectfordieback
Replant/rehabilitate / 1,500
5,000
Tobedetermined / 1,500
Monitordepthandtimingof inundation
Conductresearch
Reportonmanagementstrategies / 1,500
Tobedetermined
- / 1,500 / 1,500
Total / 45,150 / 11,100 / 12,900
Summary of costs over three years
Total $69,150 (costs excluded shown above)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
TheNationalReserveSystemProgramof EnvironmentAustraliafundedtheprojectentitled‘identifyingand conservingthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesinthesouthwestbotanicalprovince’.Theprojectconfirmed thethreatenedstatusofthisplantcommunity.
ThefollowingpeopleprovidedvaluableadviceandassistanceinthepreparationofthisInterimRecovery
Plan;NeilGibson,GregKeigheryandJohnBlyth / CALM,WildlifeResearchCentreWoodvale
BronwenKeigheryandNatalieThorning / DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection
DavidMitchell / CALM’sSwanRegion
LyndonMutterandKenBorland / CALM’sPerthDistrict