Melaleuca biconvexa (a small tree) - vulnerable species listing

The Scientific Committee, established under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the small tree, Melaleuca biconvexa Byrnes as a vulnerable species on Schedule 2 of the Act. Listing of vulnerable species is provided by Part 2 of the Act.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee, established under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the small tree, Melaleuca biconvexa Byrnes as a vulnerable species on Schedule 2 of the Act. Listing of vulnerable species is provided by Part 2 of the Act.

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. Melaleuca biconvexa Byrnes is a shrub to small tree with papery bark growing in damp places. A detailed description is provided in Harden, G. 1991. Flora of New South Wales Volume 2 UNSW Press, Sydney. p. 175.

2. Melaleuca biconvexa occurs as disjunct populations in coastal New South Wales from Jervis Bay to Port Macquarie, but the main concentration of records is in the Gosford/Wyong area. The distribution of the disjunct southern population in the Jervis Bay area has been recently described by Mills, K. 1993 - "The Natural Vegetation of the Jervis Bay Region of New South Wales", the National Estates Grant Scheme report.

3. Within the Gosford/Wyong area most populations occur on private land or on road reserves. The species may occur in dense stands forming a narrow strip adjacent to watercourses, in association with other Melaleuca species or as an understorey species in wet forest. Multiple stems may arise from single rootstocks so that an estimate of population size is not possible from visual inspection of stands.

4. Populations are threatened by land clearing, filling, excavation for construction of floodwater detention basins and alteration to water tables.

5. In view of 3 and 4 above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Melaleuca biconvexa is likely to become endangered unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate, and is therefore eligible for listing as a vulnerable species.

Proposed gazettal date: 18/9/98
Exhibition Period: 18/9/98 to 23/10/98