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Appendix 3

Prasophyllum niphopedium D.L. Jones
Summer Leek-orchid

Conservation status:

EPBC Act 1999: Not listed

IUCN (2000): E (preliminary assessment)

NRE (2000): Not listed

Distribution:

Endemic to Victoria - Victorian Alps Bioregion (Mt Cobberas-Benambra area). Not recorded elsewhere, but may be more widespread throughout the Snowy Mountains Range in NSW and Victoria.

Specific details of population localities are held on DSE internal files.

Abundance:

200-500 plants known from 5 populations, however population sizes fluctuate from year to year (D. Rouse pers. comm.). Former abundance is unknown, but likely to have been naturally rare.

Habitat:

On snow plains in grassy alpine heath dominated by Hakea microcarpa, Epacris gunnii, E. brevifolia, Baeckea gunniana, Poa clivicola and P. sieberiana var. sieberiana, usually near watercourses. Soils are dark brown organic loams, seasonally poorly drained. Critical habitat has not been determined, but populations occur above 1400m above sea level and plants are likely to require open habitat protected from feral horses.

Reservation status:

Reserved in the Alpine National Park.

Management:

Parks Victoria, (East Victoria Region, Omeo)

Recovery objectives:

Maintain and/or increase existing population size; protect and manage habitat.

Recovery actions undertaken:

• Parks Victoria is currently preparing a commercial contract for feral horse management.
• All sites were visited during preparation of the recovery plan.

Issues specific to recovery:

• Control of feral animals at the known sites is urgently required and methods to maintain open, undisturbed habitat should be investigated.

Overall recovery strategy:

Site condition and the extent and severity of disturbance from feral animals will be evaluated. Appropriate habitat management strategies will be implemented to prevent damage by vehicles, cattle, feral horses and feral pigs. Recovery will be jointly managed by DSE and PV. Community involvement will be sought if necessary.

Consultation:

Parks Victoria (Victoria East Region, Omeo); D. Rouse (Centre for Plant Conservation Biology, Canberra).