Danthonia : newsletter of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation

12 Pages·1993·4 MB·English

by  Australian National Botanic Gardens

Dant
honia
(Os
| Volume 3 Number 1
WY
June 1994
«iRSS eaeS )
EWSLETTER OF THE AUSTRALIAN NETWORK FOR PLANT CONSERVATION
SMOKE, NOT FIRE, MAY BE
THE KEY TO GERMINATION
by Kings Park eas
he research team at Kings Park dependant on fire for reproduction.
and Botanic Gardens in Perth, The smoke was derived from
WA, believes that smoke, not fire, burning a range of ‘bush’ materi-
may be the key to the germination als and was applied as a fumigant,
of many species of Australian a liquid and in sand. All methods
plants. of application increased germinat-
While researching germination ion. However, the fumigation
strategies for the propagation of method was the most effective and
102 difficult to germinate species, gave more consistent results.
Kings Park researchers discovered To confirm that heat was not
that smoke-derived materials the important factor in germina-
caused a 10 to 50- fold increase in tion, the researchers cooled the
total promotion of germination. smoke before exposing the seeds
Species have now been grown eas- to it.
ily and effectively from seed where The Kings Park research unit is
no other similar method for propa- now working to identify the com-
gation has been known. In tests to ponents in the smoke that are
date the smoke process has been stimulating germination.
successfully applied to the germi- Dramatic promotion of germi-
nation of 41 species and 30 genera nation has been achieved in the
of native Australian plants. It is horticulturally significant genera,
likely that the process will be Verticordia, Conospermum, Erioste-
broadly applicable to a wide range mon, Hybanthus, Lechenaultia, four
of Australian plants, particularly species of Epacridaceae, Pimelea,
those that are fire or disturbance Stirlingia and Geleznowia. Develop-
opportunists, eg. Actinotus, Erioste- ment of the first reliable method
mon, etc. The discovery will have for propagation of these species
*. significant implications for habitat may add significantly to the com-
management and the conservation mercial development of Australian
of rare or threatened species. The plants for cut flower production
process also provides the first ever which could be increased by $2-$5
\ option to controlled burning for the million on full take-up of this
maintenance of species which are technology. In addition the min-
= page 3
hoya: Botanic Gardens
fied the areas that need to be
EDITORIAL ‘and National Herbarium
addressed. Many of them, how-
ever, are dependent on members
At the recent conference actively promoting the need for
Nature Conservation - The Role of plant conservation in their area
|
Networks, held in Western and effectively networking with
Australia, the need for the close other members.
i
interaction between conserva- Mark Richardson
tion agencies, industry and the
community (a principle reason Ee RN eOs NCE RE Oa RENTAL WRENN
for the establishment of the AARGH!! Advisory Committee
ANPC) was again highlighted.
his notice was circulated on
All groups represented at the
the Australian National Bo- Dr David Aldous
meeting agreed with this view.
tanic Gardens e-mail network
Dr Tony Brown
It was also stressed that
recently (we don’t talk to each
while there is a need for con- Dr Mick Brown
other any more-we send elec-
servation to have coordination Mr Geoff Farnell
tronic messages!) "At a seminar
at a national level, it is still im- Mr Stephen Harris
recently, Peter Lindler (of South
perative that the majority of
Africa) presented preliminary Ms Katrina Jensz
the interaction takes place at
molecular results indicating Dr David Kay
the regional and local levels. It
that Australian species of the
Mr Ed McAlister
is envisaged that a major part
grass genus Danthonia are better
Ms Margaret Moore
of this interaction in the ANPC
referred to the published genus
will involve members being Prof Henry Nix
name Rhytidosperma. This sup-
able to meet and discuss their Dr Bob Parsons
ports earlier morphological
projects with colleagues. This
work by Connor and Edgar Ms Rose Turner
has already been happening in
which was not taken up. Com-
Tasmania for the past two In this issue
binations under Rhytidosperma
years and is now starting in
are available for all published
Victoria. Both groups are in a Smoke not Fire pl
Australian Danthonias. We are
position to make good use of ANPC in Victoria p3
not proceeding to name chang-
the values of networking and
es pending more final results.” Zieria baeuerlenii - a
to take advantage of the
Staff of the ANPC National
reprieve p4
strengths of integrated
Office have been heard singing
conservation. News p5
stirring choruses from "Les Mis-
Other members are encour- Grassland Conservation
erables". But we always said
aged to consider what oppor-
that this journal was called Dan- at Melbourne Zoo p6
tunities exist to do this at either
thonia because it sounded such a Book Review p9
the regional or local level.
nice name!"We shall not be
Some of the people that you Conference report p 10
moved"
think should be involved may
not as yet be part of the ANPC. Danthonia
Their participation in region-
Danthonia is published for
al/local meetings may be all pinions expressed in this
the Australian Network for
that is required for them to de- Plant Conservation by the publication are the au-
velop an interest. If members thors’ and not necessarily those
Australian National Botanic
wish to start such local net- Gardens of the publisher.
working and spreading the Material presented in Dan-
GPO Box 1777
word, ANPC pamphlets are thonia may be copied for per-
Canberra ACT 2601
available from the National sonal use or published for edu-
AUSTRALIA
Office. cational purposes provided
Telephone [phone]
The views expressed at the that any extracts are fully
Fax [phone]
WA conference were proof that acknowledged
the ANPC has correctly identi- ISSN 1039-6500
from page 1 ANPC ACTIVITIES IN in an important public educa-
tion program, in relation to
ing industry will be able to bet- VICTORIA
endangered grassland plants.
ter restore degraded lands.
The following article is a report John Arnott, horticultural
Environmental concerns re-
on a recent trip to Melbourne by technician and my guide for
garding the sustainability and
the ANPC’s Extension Officer, the day, and Barry Cross, gar-
ethics of ’wild picking’ may
Jeanette Mill. dener, have prepared an arti-
also be alleviated by applica-
he Victorian College of Ag- cle about this award winning
tion of this new germination
riculture and Horticulture, initiative, which appears else-
process which offers a cost ef-
Burnley, was first port of call, where in this issue. Future
fective method of greenstock
to speak with John Delpratt. projects include the use of en-
production.
Two projects of note are cur- dangered grassland and
The smoke process has also
rently underway at the college. woodland plants in the Aus-
been applied to unburnt habi-
A native grasslands garden
tralian Habitat Zone, and en-
tat sites and has stimulated
bed is providing valuable expe- dangered rainforest plants in
germination of seed in the soil
rience for staff and students in the Butterfly House.
bank ofa widerangeof
the propagation and mainte- Stephen Forbes, of the Vic-
disturbance- and fire-promoted
nance of Australian grassland torian Department of Conser-
species. These species are usu-
species. Importantly, it is also vation and Natural Resources,
ally only found after roadside
raising the awareness of future gave me an overview of the
disturbance or bushfires and a
horticulturists about one of the Victorian Flora and Fauna
significant proportion of the
most significant and pressing Guarantee Act, which the De-
rare or threatened flora of
of Victoria’s conservation partment administers.
Western Australia fall into
issues. Under this legislation, taxa,
these germination categories.
John is conducting his own ecological communities and
The simplicity of this new
post-graduate research into the threatening processes can be
procedure and its wide rang-
potential for seed production nominated for listing. Subse-
ing implications for the devel-
of grassland species in cultiva- quent to listing, Action State-
opment of ex situ conservation
tion, including some endan- ments are drawn up.
and habitat stimulation of dor-
gered species. Plants are being I yearned for Canberra’s ©
mant seed banks of rare or
propagated and grown to ma- crisp autumn weather as my
threatened species, promises
turity in large containers at the umbrella blew inside out for
important new approaches to
college. We look forward to the umpteenth time on my
rare floramanagement
hearing from John about any way to a meeting with Dale
strategies.
interesting findings as a result Tonkinson from Greening
ANPC VICTORIAN
of his work. Australia (Victoria), Adrian
MEETING A related project John is in- Moorrees, a member who is
volved in is the development employed with the VCNR, An-
A meeting of Victorian AN-
of a seed orchard, to maintain drew Batty from the Royal Bo-
PC members and others who are
viable seed sources, and reduce tanic Gardens, Melbourne, (see
interested in the conservation of
the need for collection of mate- Danthonia vol. 2, No. 1) and
plants in Victoria will be held
rial from remnant populations. Bob Parsons, a botanist from
over dinner on Wednesday, 20
July at the Carringbush Hotel, The convenor of this joint La Trobe University and AN-
228 Langridge Street, Abbots- project, Matt White, botanist PC Advisory Committee
with the Flora and Fauna member. As a result of this
ford, at 6pm (for 6-30). The ob-
ject of this preliminary meeting Branch, Victorian Department gathering, a Victorian regional
is to get interested people to- of Conservation and Natural ANPC meeting will shortly be
gether, to elect an informal Resources (DCNR), can be con- held, with regular meetings
steering committee and to look tacted for further information thereafter if there is sufficient
at priorities for plant conserva- — (phone [phone]). John Del- interest. Likely topics for dis-
tion in the state. Contacts are; pratt is keen to contact people cussion by this local arm of the
Adrian Moorrees at DCNR, ph -withexpertise in seed network include strategies to
4508696 or Dale Tonkinson, biology / physiology. encourage academia to be-
Greening Australia, ph 6541800. Melbourne Zoo is engaged come more involved in endan-
= page 5
ZIERIA BAEVERLENII - na (Interim Protection) Act snakes and lizards, 17 mam-
1991 which allowed a legal mals and 330 plants have been
A REPRIEVE!
challenge. recorded, including 7 plants
For subdivisions and roads, classified as “botanically
n the last issue (Vol 2 No 4) of councils in NSW can quite significant”.
Danthonia our species profile simply give themselves devel-
THE PRECAUTIONARY
described Zieria baeuerlenti. The opment approval for their
PRINCIPLE
species occurs only in Bomaderry own proposals, and are not re-
Justice Stein’s judgement in
Creek Bushland, near Nowra, quired to do even the rudi-
the Bomaderry Creek case has
New South Wales. The local mentaries of an environmen-
established that the precau-
council's plans to build a road tal impact statement. So it was
tionary principle is relevant to
through the middle of the Bush- only the presence of small
the determination of applica-
land inspired a court action by a populations of Yellow-bellied
tions to take or kill ’endan-
local resident last year This ac-
Gliders, Spotted Quoll and the
gered’ fauna under the NSW
tion was taken under the NSW Giant Burrowing Frog, all
National Parks and Wildlife
Endangered Fauna (Interim Pro- classified as threatened or in
Act. This application of the
tection) Act 1991. danger of extinction in NSW,
precautionary principle is a
In this article, we hear more which allowed the court
precedent which has the po-
about this landmark court deci- challenge.
tential to impact broadly on
sion and in particular the precau- In his judgement, Justice
natural resources decision
tionary principle. The author is Stein noted that ‘it is some-
making because it places a bur-
May Leatch who took the case to what strange that under State
den of proof on the proponent
court. law rare and endangered
of development. The propo-
In 1987 the future for Zieria plants are not accorded simi-
nent in such cases will be re-
baeuerlenii and the Bomaderry lar protection to rare and en-
quired to establish that serious
Creek Bushland looked bleak dangered fauna...’: He could
or irreversible harm to the en-
indeed. Urban expansion and well have made reference to
vironment will not occur as a
roads planned as far back as the lack of protection for the
result of the development.
the 1960s were destined to ei- huge array of plants and ani-
When the consequencies of
ther obliterate the Zieria or to mals not classified as in dan-
such harmful development are
preserve it as an isolated few ger of extinction.
uncertain, a cautious approach
plants in an’urban zoo’. The 200 ha. Bomaderry
may require the decision mak-
The November 1993 judge- Creek Bushland is home to an
er to favour a no-development
ment by Justice Stein in the amazing variety of plants and
option, at least where amelio-
NSW Land and Environment animals (including some feral
rative measures are incapable
Court (relating primarily to
ones) which have somehow
of overcoming the decision
the threat to ‘endangered’ ani- survived despite urban en-
maker's uncertainty.
mals from a proposed road croachments and the usual
In the Bomaderry Creek
through the middle of the bashing around that such rem-
Bushland) has given the Zieria nant bushlands receive. The case, the Council could not
prove that the proposed road
and its surrounding habitats a bushland is public owned
_-would not be harmful to the
temporary reprieve. I say tem- land, being Crown Land and
Yellow-bellied Glider or the
porary, because the local coun-
Council owned land, hence
Giant Burrowing Frog, or that
cil is doing yet more studies in the strong public debate about
the ameliorative measures pro-
an attempt to validate its pro- its future.
posed (underpasses for the
posal, and the case is likely to
Besides the rare Zieria, the
frog and poles for the glider)
return to court. The tragedy is Bushland is home to four na-
would be effective. The exist- -
that while there are many le- tionally rare species including
ence of an alternative route
gitimate planning reasons why Eucalyptus langleyi which,
which skirts the bushland was
this bushland should be kept along with the Zieria, is listed
also an important factor in this
intact as a breathing space and in Schedule 1 of the Common-
case.
recreational area in the midst wealth Endangered Species
As far as I am aware this is
of an expanding suburbia, it
Protection Act 1992. So far,
the first occasion when the
was only the Endangered Fau- 125 bird species, 10 frogs, 17
precautionary principle has
NEWS
been applied by an Australian
court, although the principle is
recognised in the Common- Federal speaker planis Royalty cheque
wealth EPA legislation. This
endangered species received
was also the first case brought
under the NSW Endangered
he ANPC National Office
Fauna (Interim Protection) Act eles speaker of the House of 3
was delighted to receive
1991. Representatives, The Hon.
recently a cheque for $415. This
It is possible to regard the Stephen Martin, took part in a
was a royalty payment on the
Bomaderry Creek case as the ceremony at Parliament House
sale of Zieria "Carpet Star’ from
first indication that Australian in Canberra, when the first of
Tropical Ornamental Plant
courts are prepared to chal- over 100 Zieria ‘Carpet Star’
Supplies. Many thanks "TOPS!
lenge the dominant view of plants was placed in shrub
the environment as merely an plantings near to the formal NSW Reviews Crown
element to be considered and garden in front of the House
Lands
managed during the project and among the 13 hectares of
approval process. It is likely shrubs at Parliament House. he New South Wales De-
that in the future Courts will Mr Martin spoke about the partment of Conservation
apply the precautionary prin- plight of threatened plants in and Land Management
ciple more broadly in cases re- Australia and about federal (CALM) is reviewing all lands
lating to development of natu- that come under its control.
ral resources generally. The Quite often this includes large
scope of the principle to affect parcels of land that contain .
decision making makes the good examples of remnant
Bomaderry Creek case a land- habitat.
mark decision in natural re- CALM is prepared to re-
source law. ceive applications from groups
who are prepared to manage
ANPC in Victoria
these parcels of land under the
from page 3 form of a trust. Recently a
-gered plant research, group near Bungendore made
sources of funding, publicity an application for land con-
for new initiatives in conser- taining good quality remnant
vation, and the rapid spread- vegetation some 7km from the
ing of information about calls town. The trusts need to have
for submissions. from three to seven members.
The Speaker at the Zieria planting.
The results of these meet- As such remnants are so
ings should make interesting Government initiatives for important to conservation, it is
reading in future issues of recommended that any NSW
conservation.
Danthonia, and hopefully oth- Zieria ‘Carpet Star’ is the members who are aware of
er groups will spring up endangered Zieria prostrata such land parcels consider ap-
around the country to discuss from the Coffs Harbour area plying for them under this
issues at a local level. Details of New South Wales. A royal- scheme. Advice on this can be
of upcoming meetings could ty from the sale of every ’Car- provided by regional offices of
be announced in Danthonia. pet Star’ goes to the ANPC, NSW-CALM.
The National Office has
thanks to the initiative of Rus-
state lists of members’ contact
sell Costin of Limpinwood
details, for those interested in Gardens Nursery, a member
contacting other members.
of the Tropical Ornamental
Copies of these can be ob-
Plant Supplies marketing
tained by contacting Jeanette group.
on [phone].
A small lawn on the north
Se) Seow egm MS s side of the platypus house was
chosen as the site forthe
display. The area was land-
Grassland conservation should be aimed at regional
scaped using a sandy loam,
rare and threatened plant spe-
at Melbourne Zoo
chosenforits drainage
cies setin their relevant
By John Arnott and Barry Cross habitat. This would, we be- qualities. Basalt rock was used
Adapted from an article. lieved, increase the potential sparingly to help protect the
published in Australian for public education and planting. A path meanders
through the display, allowing
interpretation.
Horticulture and used with
Of all the wildlife habitats closer inspection by visitors.
the permission of the authors
In the broadest sense the
in Victoria, native grasslands
and publisher.
display has been designed and
and grassy woodlands are
We a sharp focus on the without doubt the most planted to be representative of
interactions between Victorian temperate grass-
threatened. Given this, the
animals and their environ- lands, in particular those of the
project has focused its efforts
ments, modern zoos are con- on these endangered habitats. Basalt Plains, found to the west
cerned not only with the sur- Native grasslands and of Melbourne. Essentially the
vival of the species but also project aims to display this flo-
grassy woodlands once cov-
the conservation of habitat. ra and its associated rare plants
ered one-third of Victoria,
Given this emphasis on habi- within the context of a ‘habitat
however due to their suitabili-
tat, the modern zoo has the ty for agriculture, only 0.5% of at risk’.
potential to be considered as this habitat still exists. Today To simulate ‘natural grass-
much a botanical collection they are restricted to small, lands’ at the zoo, a number of-
as it is a zoological one. Plant plants indigenous to this re-
isolated remnants on road and
conservation therefore be- gion have been included and
rail reserves, in cemeteries,
comes another component of form the basis of the planting.
uncultivated paddocks and on
an overall conservatio industrial land on the subur- These include herbs such as
strategy. ban fringes of Melbourne. Arthropodium strictum, Bulbine
Melbourne Zoo’s ‘ Endan-
These remnants are of great bulbosa, Dianella revoluta, Eryn-
gered Grasslands Project’ re- significance, with one-third of gium ovinum, Helichrysum ru-
flects these changes and rep- the state’s threatened plants tidolepis, Rhodanthe anthemoides,
resents our first efforts to Microseris lanceolata and Stylid-
and animals largely restricted
date. ium graminifolium.
to these grassy ecosystems.
The horticulture depart- The grasses used are pre-
ment’s involvement in the dominantly Themeda triandra,
cultivation of rare and threat- along with Poa labillardiert, Sti-
ened species was initiated pa scabra subsp. falcata and
out of a series of staff work- Dichelachne crinita.
shops in 1989. This interest There are 15 species of rare
prompted a study into possi- or threatened plants currently
ble participation in ex-situ grown. Amongst these are Ru-
conservation of such plants. tidosis leptorrhynchoides, Senecio
Revenue raised by. a recy- macrocarpus, Lepidium hyssopt-
cling program undertaken by folium, Psoralea tenax and Carex
the department was used to tasmanica. Information on ori-
fund the project. gin, provenance, propagation,
The study considered a and so on, is maintained. |
number of factors such as the The cultivation of rare and
species to be displayed, loca- threatened plants within the
tion, functions, aims and in- display requires a high stan-
deed what form the display dard of maintenance and
itself would take. It was de- management. Whilst in some
Part of the grasslands bed at
cided that the development cases the requirements are
Melbourne Zoo
SP
straightforward, many of ment of Conservation and Natu- the pressure on remnant pop-
the species are short-lived ral Resources (Creswick) just to ulations caused by over-
perennials and propagation name a few. collection. It would produce
from seed and cuttings is The Endangered Grassland larger amounts of seed for use
essential. project is just one of the ways the in projects that have not been
The display serves as a z00 is helping to conserve previously possible, such as
‘shop front’ for grasslands. road reservations and large
and their conservation, pro- landscape projects. The zoo is
viding community access involved in these discussions
and a quality experience to and has representation on an
over a million people per ‘Thisc odlcetion ofn atingg rates pelwi ldflowers advisory group to the project.
shore ther ereo fg rasslands whicho ne covered
year. The system of signs for i alV arela, Se ‘Kenleyv ery tteo ft h Werribee Zoo was previously
—= * frit: remainsd uet vu aaa nda ysiu &
the display has been devel- develMaonyo gft shes esraielr onmumtals,, bi rdy, oS suggested as a possible site.
‘reptiles,a ndi nsectsw hichd ependo nt hewg radands
oped to relate simple, clear fo fend, shatter and mowing sitesa cet om shoeatonesd, At the recent Association of
Proserviong: babii isv itail fw ea rte op roctor
messages about native grass- ne Zoo Horticulture (USA) inau-
lands and the need for con- gural conservation awards, the
servation measures. The ‘Endangered Grassland’ dis-
project provides an opportu- play won both the conserva-
nity to develop an integrat- tion exhibit and conservation
ed. approach by combining program sections. Such recog-
the public education func- nition convinces us that we are
tion with the ex-situ cultiva- heading in the right direction
tion of threatened plant in zoo horticulture.
grasslands. Weare also in-
species. Plans are underway to fur-
Ideally all species should volved with the management of ther the educational role of the
two threatened grassland ani-
be conserved as evolving display including the produc-
populations in the wild, mals, the Eastern Barred Bandi- tion of an information bro-
coot (Perameles gunnii) and the
however the ex-situ compo- chure, workshops and further
Striped Legless Lizard (Delma
nent in an integrated ap- schools-based programs. The
proach can: impar). There are also plans to display has become a part of
° provide propagation develop an integrated display the zoo’s overall public educa-
material to assist in the re- involving mammals, reptiles, tion commitment.
birds and invertebrates as well
covery of species in the wild; Still many people do not
as plants. This area would be
® reduce pressure on wild immediately recognise the val-
part of the Australian Habitat
populations through distri- ue of what they see. Some con-
Zone which is presently at the
bution of material; sider it to be an untidy ‘weed
¢ provide a backstop to design stage. patch’ the gardeners have for-
Plant conservation in Austra-
extinction via living collec- gotten to mow. There are,
lia is becoming increasingly or-
tions and seed storage; and however, many who can see
e develop an information ganised and co-ordinated. The the value of this type of dis-
Australian Network for Plant
base, facilitating research play and indeed the need for
Conservation is establishing an
into propagation, cultural conservation measures for our
requirements, seed storage Australia-wide, multi-site, en- remaining native grasslands.
and genetics. dangered species collection. The To this end we believe the dis-
Development would not ANPC is taking a leading role in play is achieving its aims. The
have been possible without providing a focus for its member notion that zoos may be im-
organisations and assisting in
the cooperation of several portant to plant conservation
the coordination of conservation
organisations and institutio- was considered unlikely a few
programs around Australia.
ns. We acknowledge the years ago. The Endangered
Currently there are discussions
support of the Australian Grassland project demon-
being held to consider the need
National Botanic Gardens, strates that zoos can success-
for a seed orchard for grassland
La Trobe University Botany fully integrate into the plant
Department, Greening Aus- plant species from the Basalt conservation network, and,
tralia (Vic), and the Depart- Plains. This would help reduce given their focus on habitat,
have a key role to play.
Endangered grasslands bed
From an article originally rare and threatened plant species 1993
printed in Australian Horticul-
Carex tasmanica Vulnerable in Victoria
ture, February, 1994, pp 93-97.
Nationally Rare
John Arnott isa horticul- Discaria pubescens Vulnerable inVictoria
tural technician and Barry Nationally Rare
Cross is a gardener. Both
Glycine latrobeana Vulnerable in Victoria
work at the Melbourne Zoo-
Nationally Vulnerable
logical gardens.
Helichrysum sp. aff. acuminatum Rare in Victoria
Lepidium aschersonii Endangered in Victoria
Footnote. A survey of re-
Nationally Rare
sponses to the Endangered
Lepidium hyssopifolium Endangered in Victoria
Grasslands Display at Mel-
bourne Zoo was conducted by Nationally Endangered
Greening Australia. This dem- Leptorhynchus panaetioides Vulnerable in Victoria
onstrated an overall positive re- Pimelea spinescens subsp. Endangered in Victoria
action to the display, especially spinescens Nationally Vulnerable
- for its education value, with Psoralea tenax Endangered in Victoria
many people keen to learn more. Pterostylis truncata Endangered in Victoria
Of 50 people questioned, 30
Rutidosis letorrhynchoides Endangered in Victoria
were not aware that grassland
Nationally Endangered
habitats were endangered, until
Senecio macrocarpus Endangered in Victoria
visiting the display.
Nationally Vulnerable
Swainsona plagiotropis Endangered in Victoria
Nationally Vulnerable
Thesium australe Endangered in Victoria
References
Nationally Vulnerable
Arnott, J. and Cross, B.,
(1991), ‘Taking Care of Victo-
ria’s Small Plants’, Zoo News,
Service, Canberra. Cultivation in Australia, Austra-
Vol. 11, No. 3, p4.
International Union for the lian National Parks and Wild-
Australian Network for
Conservation of Nature and Nat- life Service Report Series No.
Plant Conservation, (1993),
The National Endangered Flora ural Resources (1989), Botanic 15, Canberra.
Gardens Conservation Strategy, Mitchell, G.F., (1991), ‘Con-
Collection, published by the
WWE and IUCN, Switzerland. serving Biological Diversity: a
ANPC.
Leigh, J., Briggs, J., and Hart- view from the Zoo’, Life Science
Briggs, J. and Leigh, J.,
ley, W., (1981), Rare or Threatened Vol. 3, No. 10, pp 10-18.
(1988), Rare or Threatened
Australian Plants, Australian Na- Richardson, M. et al, (1991),
Australian Plants, Australian
tional Parks and Wildlife Service Proposal for an ‘Australian Net-
National Parks and Wildlife
Special Publication No.7, work for Plant Conservation’,
Service Special Publication
Canberra. Australian National Parks and
No 14, Canberra.
Leigh, J., Boden, R., and Briggs, Wildlife Service, Canberra.
Butler, G., Meredith, L.
J., (1984), Extinct and Endangered
and Richardson, M., (1992),
Plants of Australia, Macmillan,
Conservation of Rare or Threat-
Melbourne.
ened Plants in Australasia -
Proceedings of the Conference Martin, A., (1991), ‘Zoologist in
"Protective Custody? - Ex Situ the Zoo’, Zoo News, Vol. 11, No. 3,
Plant Conservation in Australa- p-9:
Meredith, L.D. and Richard-
sia”, Australian National Bo-
son, M.M., (1989), Rare or Threat-
tanic Gardens/ Australian
ened Australian Plant Species in
National Parks and Wildlife
itats rather than species. Man- This results in part from the
BOOK REVIEW agers also have to recognise fact that changes to the natural
other uses such as recreation vegetation and therefore
MANAGEMENT OF and water catchment. The re- threats to individual species
ENDANGERED PLANTS cent well-publicised bushfires are great in Victoria. It also re-
in New South Wales may also . flects the strong lead Dr Bob
CSIRO Publications ,Melbourne
introduce a political influence Parsons and Latrobe Universi-
pp182, rrp $49.95
on management in relation to ty have taken in biological re-
Author:Simon Cropper
the contentious issue of fre- search on endangered species
Reviewed by Robert Boden
quency of deliberate burning. and in attracting funds and
ES in Australian endan- Management of Endangered postgraduate students to work
gered plants is moving from Plants by Simon Cropper is in this field.
the initial essential phases of therefore a timely publication Appendices include infor-
identification and distribution and particularly useful for mation sources and contacts
survey to species management members of the Australian which are useful but which
in the wild. Parallel with this Network for Plant Conserva- will inevitably become outdat-
are detailed studies of the biol- tion because it is written from ed within the useful text life of
ogy and ecology of rare and an Australian perspective. the book. This type of infor-
threatened species to provide The first five chapters cover mation, which is constantly
the information needed to de- basic conservation theory un- changing as government and
velop effective management der the titles of rarity and ex- non-government agencies re-
programs.
tinction, conservation strate- organise and re-reorganise, is
Most readers of Danthonia gies, finding rare plant popu- more appropriate to newslet-
will be familiar with the efforts lations, monitoring known ters like Danthonia than books.
of William Hartley, John Leigh populations and management Although occupying only nine
and John Briggs, of CSIRO, in techniques. The theory is sig- pages in 182, they add unnec-
redefining IUCN criteria for
nificantly enhanced for stu- essarily to the cost which, at
classifying rare and threatened dent use by the inclusion of $49.95, will already deter
plants to meet Australian con- many Australian examples many tertiary students who
ditions and state of knowledge and references. Most other could benefit by having their
(Hartley and Leigh, 1979, books on this subject have own copy for continuous ref-
Leigh, Briggs and Hartley, been written with a bias to- erence rather than relying on
1981, and Briggs and Leigh, wards northern hemisphere limited library resources.
1988). species and conditions and do Appendix 3, Some Tools in
The national database of not always translate well to Plant Management, outlines a
rare and threatened plants is the Australian environment. number of important topics re-
now well established and ina Chapter 6 presents ten case lating to rare plant manage-
form which can be amended studies in reasonable detail ment which are either relevant
and refined as new survey data and with appropriate referen- to a range of chapters or are
becomes available. State and ces. These studies demon- not covered elsewhere in the
territory lists are also main- strate some of the theoretical book. This information is use-
tained to meet individual leg- concepts presented in the ear- ful for students and enhanced
islative and management lier chapters. They also indi- by inclusion of ‘further read-
needs. cate the amount of detailed ing’ lists. The book contains a
The task of managing en- research which needs to be comprehensive reference list
dangered plant populations in done with each species. Trans- with 404 entries. There is a
situ is however still in its lated to the large number of useful glossary but it occupies
infancy. It involves both an Australian plants endangered ten pages or 5.5 per cent of the
understanding of the plant’s on a national basis, it empha- book, raising the question
biology and a knowledge of its sises the size of the research ‘should every scientific text
interactions with other plants task and the need to establish have its own glossary?’.
and animals in its habitat. clear research priorities. The book contains numer-
Most conservation managers Most of the studies are of ous photographs but unfortu-
have the task of managing hab- species occurring in Victoria. nately many of these are rather
Ne a a I EE I ES a
dark. The number of typo- and represented by speakers dis-
graphical errors suggests that ethe development and cussing numerous projects, in
too much reliance has been maintenance of networks. particular Landcare. Jocelyn
placed on the ‘spelling check- I presented a paper discuss- Chatfield from Western Aus-
er’ which detects spelling er- ing ANPC’s role in an inte- tralia gave an inspiring talk on
rors but not incorrect use of grated approach to plant con- some of the work being done
correctly spelt words. servation in Australia. on properties in WA and the
Finally, CSIRO should be The first keynote speaker role of Landcare in nature
congratulated for publishing was Michael Soulé, a conser- conservation.
Management of Endangered vationist from the University As the conference was
Plants and Simon Cropper for of California, who spoke on a dominated by papers, the ma-
writing it. A work of this na- wildlands project in the Unit- jority of the actual networking
ture may not have attracted ed States. Many of the points between delegates was done
commercial publishers and that he raised were reiterated during the social periods of tea
the cost may have been higher by the other speakers over the breaks, lunch etc. Even though
if it did. CSIRO has an impor- next five days. Soulé strongly this was a slower way for peo-
tant role in ensuring that advocated the ‘bottom up’ ap- ple to start interacting and
works of this nature are proach to ensure much greater would have been considerably
published. community involvement and assisted by formal workshop-
at as early a stage as possible. ping, the conference was still
Other strong messages com- an excellent opportunity to
CONFERENCE REPORT
ing from the conference were meet new colleagues. This
the need for trust - on all sides was particularly the case for
- to ensure the success of net- delegates in the east who rare-
The Role Of nee
works and the need for the use ly get the opportunity to meet
by Mark Richardson of language that is understood their counterparts in the west
he latest in a series of na- across the range of people be- _-and vice versa.
ture conservation confer- ing networked. The CSIRO conference, like
ences, organised by CSIRO Di- As at the ANPC conference, the ANPC conference, brought
vision of Wildlife and Ecolo- the involvement of indigenous together people from a wide
gy, was held in Geraldton, people from other countries range of areas who would nor-
Western Australia, from 15-20 was greater than for Austra- mally have little opportunity
May, 1994. lian Aborigines. It again em- (or apparent reason) to meet.
The conference was enti- phasised the need for the ‘con- This reinforced the feeling that
tled "The Role of Networks" servation community’ in Aus- the ANPC is very much on the
and concerned both biological tralia to make what they are right track and is already pro-
networks as a conservation re- doing either relevant or in viding the means for establish-
source and people networks as some way connected to the ing much of the networking
a way of achieving nature needs of indigenous peoples. thatis needed in nature
conservation. This was brought out very conservation.
Papers were presented over well by the speaker from One matter that is still to be
the entire five days, with nu- WWF Pakistan.Much of the resolved is the need for plant-
merous concurrent sessions. work that he had done to se- conservation to be promoted
They were presented by speak- cure an area of natural pine more. It still lags far behind
ers from Australia and over- forest in central Pakistan in- animal conservation in terms
seas and the topics included volved catering for the needs of perceived importance. It is
networks for of the local community (in- one of the major dichotomies
eindigenous people cluding schooling and agricul- that needs to be addressed by
elandcare groups and land ture) and removing the com- both offsiteand onsite
owners . munity’s need to actively conservationists. Perhaps the
- emining overexploit the forest. end of separate botanic gar-
© conservation education The Australian farming dens and zoos is approaching!
and extension community or their involve-
eagency and community ment in conservation was well
10