LAST week volunteers worked with staff from the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG), and Goulburn Mulwaree Council to plant over 500 Delicate Pomaderris shrubs near Tarago and Goulburn.
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This critically endangered shrub is only known to grow in two locations in NSW, and the total number of plants is less than 100.
The aim of the plantings is to improve the viability of the populations at both sites.
OEH Senior Threatened Species Officer Keith McDougall said propagation attempts for the plantings had proved difficult at first because plants have produced very few seeds in recent years.
“In the last three years we managed to collect less than 50 seeds so decided to attempt propagation by cuttings.
ANBG took cuttings in autumn 2014 and have managed to provide us with 500 healthy plants that are now ready to reintroduce,” Dr McDougall said.
“Because they are being planted in a harsh environment, the plants have also been hardened off for the conditions to give them the best chance of survival.”
Dr McDougall reminds us that this is not just an academic exercise.
“Pomaderris shrubs only occur in Australasia. Of the 70 known species, 31 have extremely restricted habitat and range and most of these are listed as threatened under various legislations.”
“Some are probably relics of past climates and fire regimes, and may well be an indication of how other species will respond to our changing climate – there are many lessons for us to learn from looking after a species such as the Delicate Pomaderris.”
“And besides, Pomaderris shrubs have commercial potential in horticulture, which is just beginning to be realised.”
David Taylor, the Curator of Living Collections at ANBG, said that this week’s plantings are a significant step towards securing the future of a priority threatened species.
“As a backup, the ANBG is keeping a selection of the genetic representatives in their Living Collection for future research and potential landscape enhancement plantings.
This successful initiative will provide guidance for future threatened species recovery actions and open the door for similar efforts where seed is unavailable or is challenging to germinate.”
Goulburn Mulwaree Council strategic planner Jack Miller said that Council was pleased to provide a home on its land near Tarago for the planting.
“This co-operative project is also an example of how local and state governments can work together to secure important conservation outcomes,” he said.
