Persoonia bargoensis (a shrub) - endangered species listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the shrub, Persoonia bargoensis P.H. Weston & L.A.S. Johnson as an ENDANGERED SPECIES on Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act, and thereby amend Schedule 2 of the Act by omitting reference to this species as a Vulnerable Species.
NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. Persoonia bargoensis P.H. Weston & L.A.S. Johnson is currently listed as a Vulnerable Species on Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act.
2. Persoonia bargoensis (Family Proteaceae) is an erect bushy shrub 0.6 - 2.5 m high with linear-lanceolate to lanceolate leaves 0.8-2.4 cm long, 1-2 mm wide. A detailed description is provided in Harden, G. 1991. Flora of New South Wales Volume 2 UNSW Press, Sydney. p. 12.
3. Persoonia bargoensis is restricted to a small area south-west of Sydney within the area bounded by Picton, Douglas Park, Yanderra and Cataract River. There are no records within any National Parks & Wildlife Service estate though it is known from Crown lands within the proposed Bargo River National Park and from two sites in the Sydney Water Metropolitan Special Area. None of the populations in these areas are large.
4. It grows in woodland to dry sclerophyll forest, on sandstone and clayey laterite on heavier, well-drained, loamy, gravelly soils of the Hawkesbury Sandstone and Wianamatta Shale in the catchments of the Cataract, Cordeaux and Bargo Rivers.
5. Local populations are very small (mostly less than 8 plants) and scattered, with a total population likely to be less than 250 (in 1999). The species appears to be associated with disturbance margins such as the edge of fire trails, possibly because of more light, less root competition, factors regulating the breaking of dormancy, or a factor relating to dispersal agents. The species is fire-sensitive and appears to need a minimum fire frequency of 10-15 years between fires.
6. Factors threatening the survival Persoonia bargoensis include: the very small population sizes and their scattered distribution and absence from formal conservation areas, slashing of vegetation along fire trails, inappropriate fire regimes, off-road vehicle use, and rural and rural-residential development.
7. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Persoonia bargoensis P.H. Weston & L.A.S. Johnson is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.
Proposed Gazettal date: 7/7/00
Exhibition period: 7/7/00 - 11/8/00