Threatened species & ecological communities

National recovery plan for the Bertya sp. (Cobar-coolabah)

Cunningham & Milthorpe s.n., 2/8/73
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service , July 2002
ISBN 0 7313 6517 8

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Executive Summary

Introduction

Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah occurs only in New South Wales, where it is known from four sites: two western and two coastal sites. It is a slender shrub or small tree to 4 metres high with dark green leaves that have a white lower surface. One population has already disappeared in western New South Wales and two of the remaining populations are senescent. Threats to the species include grazing, inappropriate fire and disturbance regimes and clearing.

Legal Status

Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah (Cunningham & Milthorpe s.n., 2/8/73) is listed in NSW as 'Vulnerable' on Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act). It is also listed nationally on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) 1999 as 'Vulnerable'. This species is not listed in the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants.

Recovery Plan Preparation

The TSC Act provides a legislative framework to protect and encourage the recovery of threatened species, endangered populations and endangered ecological communities in NSW. Under this legislation the Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife has a responsibility to prepare Recovery Plans for all species, populations and ecological communities listed as endangered or vulnerable on the TSC Act schedules. Similarly, the EPBC Act requires the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment to ensure the preparation of a Recovery Plan for nationally listed species and communities or adopt plans prepared by others including those developed by State agencies. Both Acts include specific requirements for the matters to be addressed by Recovery Plans and the administrative process for preparing Recovery Plans.

This Recovery Plan has been prepared to satisfy both the requirements of the TSC Act and the EPBC Act and therefore will be the only Recovery Plan for the species. It is the intention of the Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife to forward this Recovery Plan to the Commonwealth Minister of the Environment for adoption, once it has been approved by the NSW Minister for the Environment.

Recovery Plan Implementation

The TSC Act requires that a public authority must take any appropriate measures available to implement actions included in a Recovery Plan for which they have agreed to be responsible. Public authorities including councils identified as responsible for the implementation of Recovery Plan actions are required by the TSC Act to report on measures taken to implement those actions. In addition, the Act specifies that public authorities must not make decisions that are inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

The only public authority responsible for the implementation of this Recovery Plan is the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.

The EPBC Act specifies that a Commonwealth agency must not take any action that contravenes a Recovery Plan.

Recovery Objectives

The overall objectives of this Recovery Plan are to clarify the conservation status of Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah in NSW and to ensure the viability of known populations.

Specific objectives of this Recovery Plan are to:

  1. limit grazing impacts at the Coolabah population;
  2. survey potential habitat for further populations;
  3. ensure there is recruitment at senescent populations;
  4. raise awareness of the conservation significance of Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah and involve the community in the recovery program.

Recovery Criteria

Recovery criteria for Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah are as follows:

  1. Coolabah population is protected from grazing;
  2. the distribution is better understood in the Cobar-Coolabah and coastal areas;
  3. viability, dormancy and germination cues of seed understood;
  4. management strategies to encourage recruitment at Gibraltar Range and Coolabah implemented;
  5. educational material is disseminated and the community is involved in the implementation of the recovery plan.

Recovery Actions

In order to achieve the objectives, a number of specific actions are identified by this Recovery Plan:

  1. protection of the Coolabah population;
  2. survey;
  3. investigation of recruitment;
  4. management strategies for the Coolabah and Gibraltar Range populations
  5. community liaison and awareness.

BRIAN GILLIGAN
Director-General

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