Translocation Efforts Breathe Life Into Endangered Featherflower

Home 🞂 Newsroom 🞂 Translocation Efforts Breathe Life Into Endangered Featherflower
Australia has frequently been depicted as having  ‘unique flora’ which in turn has also been referred to as ‘curious and diverse’. Both of these descriptions can be applied to the Verticordia. Verticordia – or featherflowers – are often extraordinarily beautiful, densely floriferous shrubs, which can only be described in superlatives, although some are the opposite and either insignificant or curious to almost bizarre.
Verticordia – The turner of hearts by Elizabeth A. George

This book excerpt certainly rings true for Verticordia spicata subsp. squamosa, commonly known as Scaly-leaved Featherflower, which produces remarkable flowers in late spring and early summer forming dense spikes on the ends of the branches.

Endemic to the Three Springs and Mingenew area this spectacular plant is considered Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC).

Conservation Officer Alanna Chant – from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) – has been working with the species since 2000, and over the last year has partnered with NACC NRM to undertake further translocations as part of a new project “Search and Rescue: A partnership approach to translocations and monitoring for Scaly-leaved Featherflower.”

Translocation plantings are one of the important tools utilised by DBCA in the fight against extinction – they aim to protect as well establish secure populations in the wild. This can be  through, the restocking of a declining population, restoration of an extinct population or the establishment of new populations.

Ms Chant was recently joined by her DBCA colleagues, NACC staff and members of the Midwest Aboriginal Ranger Program to establish new seedlings germinated at the department’s Kings Park and Botanic Gardens in Perth. More than 40 seedlings were planted at two sites – with one near Yandanooka establishing a new population.

Ms Chant said that the new population will really improve this plant’s long term survival chances because the habitat is ideal and the existing vegetation is in excellent condition.

“It is hoped that the translocation sites will provide the population with resilience and genetic diversity going forward, and future projects may rely on these sites as seed orchards.”

She added “I’m really looking forward to seeing the plants at this site when they are in flower”.

NACC’s Biodiversity Program Coordinator Jessica Stingemore has also been working on the project and helped at the translocation planting.

“This project has shown that by working together, government, not for profits and land managers, can take radical action to halt the decline and restore this rare flora.”

“Partnership projects like this make a game-changing difference for the future of our threatened species.”

NACC and DBCA are delivering translocation and monitoring project services for the Scaly-Leaved Featherflower populations in a partnership approach.  These project services are supported by the Australian Government’s Regional Land Partnerships (part of the National Landcare Program).

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.