Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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site specific
region wide
Planting a seed for the future of Eyre Peninsula's threatened flora
Solid fencing barrier to prevent veldt grass from spreading to orchid habitat
Native spear grass growing in orchid habitat area
A rare Ironstone Mulla Mulla plant near Wanilla
Without quick intervention, some of the many threatened plant species that call Eyre Peninsula home may face a bleak fate. Work is however underway to make their future brighter.
"There are 25 nationally threatened plant species on Eyre Peninsula, including 10 that occur nowhere else," South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage Conservation Program Manager Louisa Halliday said.
"For example, the Whibley's Wattle is endemic to Eyre Peninsula with only two known populations. We also have the West Coast Mintbush, the Granite Mudwort and a number of orchid species.
"They all face threats like habitat modification and fragmentation, through weed invasion, inappropriate fire management practices and grazing pressures."
So the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board, South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage, and Nature Foundation SA have teamed up to find the best ways to help these species survive for the future.
Funding
Since 2000, the Australian Government has provided more than $445,000 for threatened flora recovery on Eyre Peninsula. The State Government has also provided assistance.
Activities
This funding has helped the development of a recovery plan for Eyre Peninsula's threatened plant species, which is due to be completed in 2007.
"We're in the process of finalising the plan, which will give us the key actions we need to take and help us prioritise, as well as providing a basis for further funding," Louisa said.
"One of our main actions will involve supporting landholders in protecting threatened species populations on their properties, either through works like fencing or weed control, or through heritage agreements or conservation covenants."
In the meantime, the team has been propagating threatened plants, and working to foster interest among the community including local school students.
"We want to engage people to look after populations near them, and we already have a small band of people who are committed to help with flora monitoring and protection," Louisa said.
Achievements
Louisa said an increase in community awareness of threatened plants and their importance was already evident.
"We are getting more reports from landholders finding some of these species on their land," she said. "This gives us a better idea of where the populations are, and we're even finding there are more plants out there for some species than we originally thought."
Some schools have also become actively involved in monitoring, propagating and planting threatened species.
More information
- Louisa Halliday, South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage Conservation Programme Manager: (08) 8688 3111
- Jeanie Quilliam, Eyre Peninsula Regional Natural Resources Management Liaison Officer: (08) 8688 3413 or quilliam.jeanie@saugov.sa.gov.au
- Biodiversity Conservation Programs of Eyre Peninsula and the Far West website: www.biodiversity.sa.gov.au/west_bcp
See also
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Links to another web site
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