This species has been assigned to the
Landscape species management stream under the
Saving our Species (SoS) program.
Justification for allocation to this management stream
Rhodomyrtus psidioides has a widespread distribution and the key threat to this species is the landscape scale, wind dispersed pathogen, Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii).
Conservation status
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Status in NSW:
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Critically Endangered
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Commonwealth status:
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Critically Endangered
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| NSW Final determination: |
01 February 2019 |
Management objectives
The SoS strategy aims to secure the species in the wild for 100 years and maintain its conservation status under the BC Act.
The SoS strategy aims to secure the species in the wild in NSW for 100 years and maintain its conservation status under the BC Act. The SoS strategy also aims to engage local communities in the species' conservation and to encourage the NSW community to identify with it as a flagship for threatened species conservation.
This SoS strategy aims to secure this population in the long-term and maintain its conservation status under the
BC Act.
This SoS strategy aims to ensure the security of this species in the long-term and maintain its conservation status under the
BC Act.
This SoS strategy aims to ensure that the species is secure in the wild in NSW and that its NSW geographic range is extended or maintained and maintain its conservation status under the
BC Act.
This SoS strategy aims to secure critical populations of this species in NSW in the long-term and maintain its conservation status under the
BC Act.
The SoS strategy aims to secure this population in the long-term.
The SoS strategy aims to maximise the viability of the ecological community and maintain its conservation status under the
BC Act.
The SoS strategy aims to minimise current and future impacts of the key threatening process on priority biodiversity values, including threatened species and ecological integrity. This objective aligns with the
BC Act legislation.
Species sightings and management sites across NSW
The map below displays the species’ distribution in NSW, based upon the species’ geographic range, habitat distribution or area of occupancy (to as high a resolution as available data allow, using a range of data sources).
Information about the species’ habitat and ecology is available here.
The map may also display one or more management sites where management of important populations is underway. More information is available in the tables below.
Your search returned one or more sites that are restricted due to the sensitive nature of either the species or the site. Individuals involved in management on these sites can access detailed information via the database.
IBRA
The species occurs in the following IBRA (Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia) regions in NSW:
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| NSW North Coast |
| South Eastern Queensland |
| Sydney Basin |
Proportion of the species' distribution on reserve
4% of the species' distribution occurs on reserve (within NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service estate).
Critical actions for this species
The key threats to the viability of landscape-managed species are loss, fragmentation and degradation of habitat, and widespread pervasive factors such as impacts of climate change and disease. Many of these threats are addressed by NSW planning, native vegetation, and biodiversity legislation, policy and programs including the offsets program (BioBanking, NSW Biodiversity Offsets Policy for Major Projects), Biodiversity Certification, management of environmental water and reservation under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
Threats to this species are outlined here.
The actions listed in the action toolbox are supplementary to NSW legislation, policy and programs and can be used by stakeholders, where applicable to guide management at a site, regional or state scale.
Action toolbox
| Undertake a desktop review of species records and historical survey data and engage with consultants, NGO's and volunteer ‘spotters’ to identify rapid survey sites. | State |
| Identify weed management sites during rapid field surveys and monitor the impact of canopy gaps created by the loss of mature trees due to myrtle rust infection on weed densities. Control transformer weeds (particularly vine weeds and lantana) where impacting the species. Where appropriate use a staged approach and use methods that reduce off-target damage. Schedule regular follow up work. | Site |
| Liaise with Forestry Corporation of NSW on the species habitat requirements and impacts of forestry operations on the species, including the impact of clearing of native vegetation on the area of occupancy of Myrtaceae host species, which may have consequences for genetic diversity and their resilience to infection. | State |
| Liaise with NSW Rural Fire Service and National Parks and Wildlife fire planners on the impacts of too frequent and intense fire on the species and its habitat to inform fire planning within the priority area. Plants can be more susceptible to myrtle rust infection after fire as the disease infects seedlings, fast growing shoots, leaves, buds, and fruits of the plants. | State |
| Complete rapid field surveys across the entire species range to determine rust impact, identify rust resistant populations, sites or individuals. Use standardised protocols for recording myrtle rust incidence, severity and demographic impacts. | State |
| Undertake genetically representative germplasm collections. Collect genetic material (min. 6 individuals) from every germplasm collection site for genetic analysis of population structure and genetic representativeness of collections. | Site, State |
| Establish safe custody ex-situ living collections. Maintain genetically representative core collections to supply dispersed collections. Develop partnerships with botanic gardens and nurseries to establish dispersed collections targeting low humidity and myrtle rust free areas. Create an ‘orcharding’ and seed production program to grow and manage plants obtained from cuttings. | State |
| Identify rust-tolerant lineages from wild plants and ex situ collections and, if possible, initiate selective breeding for rust resistance, and/or resistance-trait transfer for future population supplementation or translocations. | State |
| Liaise with Queensland Department of Environment and Science and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to share information and genetic stock. | State |
| As rust-resistant linages become available, encourage translocation and revegetation by Landcare groups and through private land conservation agreements. | Site |
| Maintain stratified monitoring sites to monitor on-going myrtle rust incidence, severity and symptomology over time. If possible, choose sites with pre-myrtle rust baseline data and with co-occurring myrtaceous species. This is conducted as part of the overarching management of the myrtle rust Key Threatening Process. | State |
How will this species be managed?
Key management sites for this threatened species are being identified by the NSW Government
and other program partners, where feasible, cost-effective and beneficial management actions can be undertaken.
Currently, 1 management site has been identified for this threatened species.
Management sites