THREATENED AND IMPORTANT SPECIES

PRIORITY BS9

Threatened orchids and Preminghana Billybuttons

The Cradle Coast Region has a wide variety of orchids, many of which are threatened or found only in Tasmania, with small numbers of specimens known and in localised areas. They usually flower for short periods only. Orchids can be found in a variety of habitats including alpine herbfields, heathland, ancient rainforests, native grasslands and coastal vegetation and often rely on specific biological and ecological interaction for growth and survival. This makes them susceptible to disturbance and at risk to a variety of localised threats, which need to be better understood and managed.

The Preminghana Billybutton is known to occur only on basalt cliff edges at Preminghana, an Indigenous Protected Area in the far north-west of the region. It is a herb with 1-3 stems which grows to 36 cm high. Flowering occurs from October to January. It is estimated to number less than 200 individual plants, all of which occur within one population at Preminghana and is listed as endangered under both Commonwealth and State legislation.

outcome

By 2030, four priority populations of threatened flora species have been protected from known threats, and a citizen science program to increase community knowledge about threatened flora has been implemented.

threats

Local threats that can be addressed by NRM actions:

  • Land use pressures on surrounding land including development, intensification of industries and poor management practices
  • Weeds and feral animals (e.g. deer)
  • Increasing fire risk due to climate change
  • Lack of knowledge in councils and amongst land managers about threatened flora

Actions

BS9.a

Implement a program to map and protect populations of threatened flora species such as Preminghana Billybuttons and endemic orchids.

implementation

Investment Opportunity

  • Australian Government
  • Tasmanian Government
  • Regional or Local
  • Private or philanthropic

  • Information gathering activities including assessment and mapping of known habitat and threats.
  • Policy and planning activities such as prioritisation of appropriate management actions and locations for investment and engagement planning.
  • Behaviour-change and capacity-building activities – education, awareness and skill-building focused on natural values.

Local Councils; Government agencies including PWS; Aboriginal groups; Landcare, Wildcare and other community groups; Land managers; volunteers; researchers.

Extension, capacity building and land management agreement opportunities for landholders and land managers; capacity-building for council staff and contractors about threatened flora; volunteer and citizen science opportunities.