Holly leaves and Christmas trees: The holly-leaf grevillea's new home
This Christmas, the critically endangered holly-leaf grevillea (Grevillea ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia) is being given a new lease on life thanks to a translocation project designed to boost its wild population in central west NSW.
Once confined to the red, sandy soils of Round Hill Nature Reserve, the species now has a promising future, with two populations established through the NSW Government’s Saving our Species (SoS) program.
Under the program, seeds and cuttings were collected from the reserve and taken to the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan in specialised seed-raising facilities.
In August 2024, the efforts saw the planting of 29 shrubs back into the Round Hill Nature Reserve, alongside 33 more planted in nearby Yathong Nature Reserve.
Since then, the translocated plants have experienced a survival rate of 94 per cent. Staff are ensuring ongoing care and regular watering to help the plants continue to establish themselves and maintain growth during the challenging summer months.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has a window of opportunity to turn the tide on extinctions and is committed to achieving this through its Threatened Species Framework for Zero Extinctions. This includes working in partnership with the SoS program to protect critically endangered species like the holly-leaf grevillea.
The project is a collaboration between NPWS, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.
Quotes attributable to NPWS Branch Programs Manager Kristian Laskowski:
“By introducing a second population, we are helping the holly-leaf grevillea's survival in the wild for the next 100 years.
“Projects like the holly-leaf grevillea translocation are a great example of how conservation management efforts can make a difference to the long-term survival of our threatened species.”
Quotes attributable to NSW DCCEEW Principal Ecologist, Ecosystems and Threatened Species Dr Kim Maute:
“When it comes to threatened species conservation, the saying ‘many hands make light work’ certainly rings true.
“The partnerships involved to secure the future of this extremely rare plant show how collaboration is critical towards achieving the impact needed for conservation – and this is what the Saving our Species program is all about.
“We are working today so we can secure our native plants, animals, and ecosystems for generations to come.”
Quotes attributable to Botanic Gardens of Sydney Supervisor of Production Horticulture Ryan Newett:
“Botanic Gardens of Sydney propagated these new plants from seeds collected in 2023, supplemented by previous collections held at the Australian PlantBank.
“Being involved in conservation projects that increase the wild populations of critically endangered plants provides a feeling of great progress and accomplishment.”