Cymbidium canaliculatum population in the Hunter Catchment - endangered population listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the population of the orchid Cymbidium canaliculatum R. Br. in the Hunter Catchment as an ENDANGERED POPULATION in Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing of endangered populations is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.
NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. Cymbidium canaliculatum (family Orchidaceae) is not currently listed as an endangered species in Part 1 of Schedule 1 or as a critically endangered species in Part 1 of Schedule 1A and as a consequence populations of this species are eligible to be listed as endangered populations.
2. C. canaliculatum is a large epiphytic orchid, and has the common names of Tiger Orchid (Harden 1993) and Black Orchid (Bishop 1996). C. canaliculatum is described in Harden, G.J. (ed) (1993) The Flora of NSW Vol. 4. UNSW Press, Sydney, page 240.
3. C. canaliculatum has a scattered distribution in northern and eastern Australia from northeast NSW, through Queensland and the Northern Territory to Western Australia (Harden 1993). In NSW it occurs within dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands of tablelands and western slopes, growing in hollows of trees (Bishop 1996, Harden 1993).
4. The Hunter Catchment population of C. canaliculatum refers to all plants of C. canaliculatum occurring within the Hunter Catchment, as defined by Australia's River Basins (Geoscience Australia 1997). The Hunter Catchment includes the local government areas of Cessnock, Maitland, Dungog, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, part of Mid-western Regional, and part of Upper Hunter.
5. The population of C. canaliculatum in the Hunter Catchment is at the south-eastern limit of the geographic range for this species (Peake 2005). This population is of significant conservation value because it is one of the few epiphytic orchids occurring at temperate latitudes.
6. Within the Hunter Catchment, C. canaliculatum is most commonly found in Eucalyptus albens (white box) -dominated woodlands, usually occurring singly or as a single clump, typically between two and six metres above the ground (Peake pers. comm.). It has been found, less commonly, to grow on E. dawsonii (slaty box), E. crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark), E. moluccana (grey box), Angophora floribunda (rough-barked apple), Acacia salicina (cooba) (Peake pers. comm.) and on some other species.
7. The number of plants of C. canaliculatum in the Hunter Catchment is currently estimated to be very low, as few as 90. There could be as many as 300 to 500 individuals in the population, assuming an average density of about one plant per 30 square kilometres of estimated habitat for C. canaliculatum population in the Hunter Catchment (T Peake pers. comm.).
8. In the Hunter Catchment C. canaliculatum is known to occur within Wollemi and Goulburn River National Parks but it is estimated that about 90% of the population occurs on land not managed for conservation. Although it may be present in other reserves in the Hunter Catchment, recent surveys of Manobalai Nature Reserve (Peake & Bell unpubl.), Wingen Maid Nature Reserve (Hill et al. 2001), Wallabadah Nature Reserve (Peake 2004) and Towarri National Park (Hill et al. 2001) did not detect any occurrences of C. canaliculatum. There were no records of C. canaliculatum in a survey of Yengo National Park (Sanders et al. 1988).
9. Threats to the population of C. canaliculatum in the Hunter Catchment include land clearing and the associated fragmentation of habitat, on-going removal of remnant trees, and illegal collecting. It may be inferred from these threats that the population of C. canaliculatum in the Hunter Catchment may suffer a projected or continuing decline in abundance, geographic distribution or habitat quality. Local orchid enthusiasts and land managers have observed such declines in habitat quality and abundance of C. canaliculatum during recent decades .
10. The population of the orchid Cymbidium canaliculatum R. Br. in the Hunter Catchment is eligible to be listed as an endangered population as, in the opinion of the Scientific Committee it is facing a very high risk of extinction in New South Wales in the near future as determined in accordance with the following criteria as prescribed by the Threatened Species Conservation Amendment (Listing Criteria) Regulation 2005:
Clause 19
The population is facing a very high risk of extinction in New South Wales in the near future as, in the opinion of the Scientific Committee, it satisfies any one or more of the following paragraphs and also meets the criteria specified in the following clauses:
(a) it is disjunct or near the limit of its geographic range,
(c) it is otherwise of significant conservation value.
Clause 20
The size of the population has undergone, is observed, estimated, inferred or reasonably suspected to have undergone, or is likely to undergo within a time frame appropriate to the life cycle and habitat characteristics of the taxon, a large reduction based on either:
(a) an index of abundance appropriate to the taxon, or
(b) geographic distribution, habitat quality or diversity, or genetic diversity.
Clause 22
The estimated total number of mature individuals in the population is low, and
(a) a projected or continuing decline is observed, estimated or inferred in either:
(i) an index of abundance appropriate to the taxon, or
(ii) geographic distribution, habitat quality or diversity, or genetic diversity.
Clause 23
The estimated total number of mature individuals of the population is observed, estimated or inferred to be very low.
Associate Professor Lesley Hughes
Chairperson
Scientific Committee
Proposed Gazettal date: 13/04/06
Exhibition period: 13/04/06 - 09/06/06
References:
Bishop A (1996) Field guide to the orchids of New South Wales and Victoria. University of New South Wales Press, Sydney.
Geoscience Australia (1997) Australia's River Basins.
Harden GJ (ed.) (1993) Flora of NSW Volume 4. (NSW University Press: Sydney.)
Hill L, Peake T, Bell S, Raine A (2001) 'The vegetation of Towarri National Park, and Wingen Maid Nature Reserve and Cedar Brush Nature Reserves.' Report to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Scone.
Peake T (2004) 'The vegetation of Wallabadah Nature Reserve.' Unpublished report prepared for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Muswellbrook.
Peake T (2005) 'The Vegetation of the Central Hunter Valley, New South Wales.' A Report on the Findings of the Hunter Remnant Vegetation Project. Final Draft Version 1. Hunter - Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority, Paterson.
Peake TC, Bell S (unpubl.) The vegetation of Manobalai Nature Reserve and Manobalai Vacant Crown Land, Upper Hunter Valley.
Sanders J, Bedward M, Leahy B, Robinson M, Sheringham P (1988). 'Preliminary report on the vegetation of Yengo National Park and Parr State Recreation Area.' Report to National Parks and Wildlife Service of NSW.