NZNOG Journal 102 - Back from the brink

Journal Number 102
February 2007

CONSERVATION BY CULTIVATION

Back From The Brink:
Voluntary Orchid Conservation in Victoria, Australia
By Andrew Dilley, President, ANOS Victorian Group

In recent years the Australasian Native Orchid Society, Victorian Group (ANOS Victoria), has taken
a proactive hands on approach to orchid conservation.

To try and reverse the plight of our native orchids, which are suffering from loss of natural habitat through development, land use changes and climate change, the Threatened Orchid Recovery Team (TORT) was established. TORT is made up of representatives from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Parks Victoria, Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Zoo, Victorian Universities and the Australasian Native Orchid Society, Victorian Group.

It was established to bring all the various bodies together that had responsibility or involvement in orchid conservation across the state so that a coordinated approach to maximising our efforts could be achieved.

ANOS Victoria has been involved in many ways with orchid conservation. Our activities have included monitoring, searching, environmental management, weeding, associated species identification, translocation, growing orchids from seed, establishment of ex-situ populations, reintroduction into the wild and the promotion of awareness of our natural orchid heritage.

When we started getting more involved in conservation, the group decided to "adopt" some orchid species that were endangered. The orchids chosen were colonies that we were already aware of that were receiving little in the way of resources or attention. All work carried out was undertaken under the guidance of the responsible authority and in accordance with recovery plans that had been drawn up.

Our first "adopted" orchid was Prasophyllum suaveolens (Fragrant Leek Orchid) that was growing in a small country cemetery (Fig.1, below). Only a few people were aware of the existence of this isolated colony, believing that the best way of protecting the orchid was to keep its existence a secret, under the impression that its greatest threat was from unscrupulous collectors who would dig it up given the opportunity.

The Cemetery Trust had been made aware of the presence of these orchids many years previously, but was not really aware of their significance. Over the years the management of the Cemetery Trust changed and gradually the orchids in the cemetery were forgotten about. Consequently they were under threat from invading weeds, principally Watsonia and English Broom. Also the area was being mown regularly, particularly when the orchids were coming into flower. When we visited the site to see what needed to be done the population stood at only 39 plants.


	Fig.1: Prasophyllum suaveolens

This site had several layers of management. The Cemetery Trust managed the site and burial
allotments. The local council were responsible for mowing which was undertaken by a private
contractor. The site was also classified by the DSE as a native grassland remnant so they also
had to be consulted regarding any works that were to be undertaken.

Because the weeds were particularly bad in the orchid area, our first plan of attack was to organise
a controlled burn as these orchids are stimulated by fire. We then followed up with hand weeding
and the application of herbicide on individual weeds. A mowing regime was implemented and plans
drawn up showing when and where mowing could take place, which allowed the orchids to set flowers
and disperse seed.

Each year since 2000, we have regularly monitored the orchids. Total numbers of individual plants
recorded has risen to 277, with 174 flowering plants being observed in a single year. This is a site
that needs to be regularly maintained. The site has now been burnt 3 times and we follow up each
year with hand weeding.


	Fig.2: Pterostylis despectans

Our second "adopted" orchid was Pterostylis despectans (Lowly Greenhood) (Fig. 2, above).
This orchid grows in the state forests of the central Victorian gold fields.

We knew that the orchid was highly endangered and was under attack from White-Winged Choughs,
a native bird that eats the tubers, as well as gold prospectors that work over the areas.

At the time we took on this project there were only four known sites and the estimate of the total
number of orchids remaining was believed to be around 500 plants. There was no sound basis
for this number a s no research had been undertaken due to a lack of resources.

We began by establishing 3 monitoring sites, recording emerging, flowering and seed setting plants. We also embarked on a searching program to see if we could find new sites.

Associated species surveys were undertaken at the known sites and this information was entered into the state's Flora Information System (F.I.S.). The F.I.S. was then used to search for other potential sites where similar plants grew.

Over the years we have conducted extensive searches and have now discovered over 30 individual colonies over a range of about 70 km. We count the plants at each of the known sites annually and have established that the numbers of known plants are around 4500.

Although the numbers of known plants are growing each year, mostly due to finding new locations, our monitoring sites have not been fairing so well. The extended drought in the region over the past 6 years and the Chough attacks have seen the orchids at our monitoring sites decrease by an average of 12% per annum.

As a backup we have a permit to collect orchid seed and material and are working on establishing an ex-situ population. We have discovered that the damaged orchid material left by the Choughs, which would normally dry out and die in the field, can be placed in a terrestrial orchid propagating mix and if kept moist will often grow a root and establish a new tuber.


	Fig. 3: Diuris fragrantissima

Since establishing these two orchid projects our involvement with other projects has since snowballed.
We assist the Melbourne Zoo which has established a large ex-situ population of Diuris fragrantissima
(Sunshine Diuris) (Fig. 3), an orchid virtually extinct in the wild.

We help the zoo deflask orchid seedlings, grow plants in our own collections so that the entire remaining population is not held at a single location and we assist with re-establishing new colonies in the wild by monitoring their progress and watering if needed.

The Victorian Road Authority calls us in when orchids are in the path of new roads and freeways.
We assist with the translocation of the orchids and have cared for the plants off site while new
translocation sites have been established.

Our members have been called in by local councils and the Ports and Harbours Authority to consult
and assist with various site management issues where orchids grow. We also assist friends' groups
and involve Field Naturalist groups in our activities, as locals can often keep a regular eye on sites that
we cannot visit regularly.

The DSE often calls upon us to assist with theirconservation work and as a result of the success we have had with Pterostylis despectans, we now conduct similar monitoring and searching activities for several other endangered species.

Another essential part of being able to undertake orchid conservation is funding. Through grant applications and donations we have received around $45,000. This has been used for equipment, herbicide, fencing and caging materials, paying for controlled burns and to assist members with transport costs.

In trying to raise the profile of orchid conservation and the work that has been achieved, Gary Backhouse from DSE was instrumental in preparing a submission for the 2006 Prime Minister's Environmental Banksia Awards. This submission presented the work that had been done on behalf of the organisations represented in TORT.

The close coordination between the groups and the results achieved culminated in winning the Prime Minister's Environmental Banksia Award in the category of Land and Biodiversity. The Banksia Awards are Australia's most prestigious national awards for the environment and are keenly competed for by private, government and voluntary organisations. Winning this award showed that our collaborative efforts have been successful, even though there is still a great deal of work to be done.

Although we do not undertake this work for the accolades, it has certainly been rewarding to receive recognition for our efforts. We are also hopeful that it will attract more public interest and funding from government and private organisations enabling us to continue this important work.

For further information about the activities of ANOS Victoria, or to download the Banksia Award submission titled "Back from the Brink- Saving Victoria's Threatened Orchids" visit our web site at www.anosvic.org.au.