Threatened species & ecological communities

National recovery plan for the Nightcap Oak (Eidothea hardeniana)

Threatened Species Unit, Western
New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation, 2004
ISBN: 0 7313 6781 2

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7. Implementation

Table 3 identifies the relevant government agencies responsible for outlines the implementation of recovery actions specified in this plan for the period of five years from publication. The DEC is the sole responsible party.

Table 3. Estimated costs of implementing the actions identified in the Recovery Plan
Action no Action Title *Priority Cost Estimate ($s/year) Total Cost ($ Responsible Party/Funding sources #In-kind ^Cash
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
1 Habitat management                    
1.1 Fire management 1             DEC    
1.2 Tourism 1 1000         1000 DEC 1000  
1.3 Site visitation and location confidentiality 1 7000         7000 DEC   7000
1.4 Weed management 1 500 500 500 500 500 2500 DEC 2500  
1.5 Environmental assessment 1 1000         1000 DEC 1000  
1.6 Critical habitat 3 1000         1000 DEC 1000  
2 Research                    
2.1 Survey 2 500 500 500 500 500 2500 DEC 2500  
2.2 Monitoring 1 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 25000 DEC   25000
2.3 Genetics 3 15000         15000 DEC   15000
2.4 Pollination biology and breeding system 2 5000         5000 DEC 5000  
3 Ex-situ conservation 1                  
3.1 Maintenance of living collection 1 5720 200 200 200 200 6520 DEC 6520  
3.2 Seed collection 1 1000         1000 DEC 1000  
  Annual cost of the Nightcap Oak Recovery Program   42720 6200 6200 6200 6200 67520   20520 47000
Total                     67520

* Priority ratings are: 1 - action critical to meeting plan objectives; 2 - action contributing to meeting plan objectives; 3 - desirable but not essential action
# In-Kind Funds represent salary component of permanent staff and current resources
^ Cash Funds represent the salary component for temporary staff and other costs such as the purchasing of survey and laboratory equipment

8. Social and Economic Consequences

8.1 Intrinsic ecological value

The ecological function of the Nightcap Oak is not known.

8.2 Scientific and taxonomic value

As the tree is new to science, it holds considerable scientific interest. The genus contains only two species, one in north Queensland and this species. The genus Eidothea is a phylogenetically isolated member of the Proteaceae that may hold valuable information on the evolution and biogeography of the Australian flora and the contraction of rainforests.

8.3 Biodiversity benefits

The Nightcap Range has a major concentration of rare and restricted species. Many threatened and significant flora and fauna species are known to occur in the habitat of the Nightcap Oak. Threatened flora recorded in the vicinity of the Nightcap Oak are listed in Table 2. Many species of threatened fauna have been recorded in the Nightcap Range including the Marbled Frogmouth Podargus ocellatus, Alberts Lyrebird Menura alberti, Spotted-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus, Powerful Owl Ninox strenua, Masked Owl Tyto novaehollandiae, Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa, Red-legged Pademelon Thylogale stigmatica, Parma Wallaby Macropus parma, Stephens Banded Snake Hoplocephalus stephensii, the Pouched Frog Assa darlingtonii, the Barred Frogs Mixophyes fleayi and M. iteratus, and many others. Protection of the Nightcap Oak habitat will therefore also protect habitat for these species.

Parts of Nightcap National Park are included on the World Heritage list as part of the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves (Australia) (Adam 1987; DASET 1992; CERRA 2000). One of the reasons that this series of reserves is considered of outstanding universal value is the concentration of relic plant species (such as the Nightcap Oak), which are considered to have origins in the rainforests of Gondwana. Protection of the Nightcap Oak habitat will assist with the conservation of the values of the World Heritage Area.

8.4 Commercial and pharmaceutical value

There are no known commercial or pharmaceutical values of the Nightcap Oak.

8.5 Social benefits

The preparation of a Recovery Plan for the Nightcap Oak will provide an information base for future management and research of this species. Research into the phylogeny of the species may lead to important discoveries on the evolution of Australian flora and climate change, which may in turn have a broader benefit to society.

Increased community awareness of threatened species such as the Nightcap Oak will increase support for the conservation of such species and, as a result, for the protection of biodiversity.

8.6 Economic consequences

The total cost of implementing the recovery actions will be $67,520 over the five year period covered by this plan. Existing resources within the DEC will fund $20,520 of this cost over the five year period. The balance of the costs ($47,000) are unsecured. Implementation of actions against unsecured funds will be subject to budgetary and other constraints.

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