Publications

Action 1: Determine the conservation status of the twelve threatened Caladenia taxa in southeast Australia

There is a reasonable understanding of the habitat requirements and current and former ranges for some the twelve threatened Caladenia taxa in southeast Australia, particularly where recent and historic population locality records exist (Backhouse et al. 1999a, 1999b, Berwick et al. 1999, Hill et al. 1999, C. Beardsell, unpubl. data). For other taxa, typically those recently described ones, there is a poor understanding of former and current ranges and a corresponding lack of current population data.

Accurate base line data is required in order to identify the current conservation status of various taxa, for identifying key populations and prioritising recovery actions. A more accurate determination of current population numbers will also aid in assessing the success of recovery actions in the future.

1.1 Identify and verify populations

Numbers of plants within known populations and the locations of additional populations of certain taxa need to be accurately determined. Some interim censusing and verification of populations has already been undertaken as part of the preparation of this recovery plan but further work is required. Examples include widespread and locally abundant species such as C. formosa and C. tensa, whose distribution extends to South Australia,and species lacking current population data across their range such as C. versicolor (see Table 2). Following population censusing, the reservation status of threatened Caladenia taxa and their populations will be determined.

A cooperative strategy between Victorian and South Australian state government departments, orchid groups, naturalist groups, landholders and the general public will be adopted in the first two years of the recovery plan to collect this important base line information. This action will be closely linked and will be reliant upon Action 9.1 - Prepare education material and undertake community extension. An expert contractor will be required to assist field staff and volunteer groups with taxonomically difficult or confusing taxa such as C. formosa, C. fragrantissima ssp. orientalis, C. lowanensis and C. versicolor. In some cases, detailed taxonomic assessment may be required.

Activities, which are best conducted in spring, will include censuses of known populations (part of Action 5.1 - Annual censusing of populations), identifying suitable habitat, searching for and censuses of additional populations and data collation and storage. Data on population numbers will be stored in a centralised database such as VrotPop, Victoria's rare or threatened plant database managed by NRE.

Funds are required in the first two years of recovery to cover the salary and associated travel/field costs of a Victorian-based project officer who will be responsible for coordinating and conducting searches and censusing of nine taxa across Victoria and South Australia. The project officer will also be responsible for collating and entering data on a central database and preparing conservation status assessments of each taxon for inclusion on national and state lists. Funds are also required in the first two years to contract an orchid taxonomist to assist with identification and verification of taxonomically difficult taxa and to appoint contractors to undertake survey and censusing work on an as needs basis. Regional naturalist groups and other volunteers will make in kind contributions and state government departments will manage the work and provide support staff in regional areas to assist with searches and censusing.