In the NOSSA Constitution (2007) the aims of NOSSA “are to promote and engage in activities for the promotion and furtherance of :
- the culture, propagation, conservation, knowledge and scientific study of the native orchids of southern Australia and the Australasian region;
- the preservation of orchids as a species and their preservation within their native habitat.”
The article following is about one of the ongoing conservation activities with which NOSSA members were and are currently involved. Quoted verbatim from SA Veg on the Edge, Vol 7, No. 1, 2007
Recovery Plan for 12 Threatened Orchids in the Lofty Block Region released
Since 1998, the Lofty Block Threatened Orchid Recovery Project (LBTORP) has been implementing recovery actions for threatened orchids in the Lofty Block region of SA. In late 2006, a draft recovery plan was completed for the following twelve species:
- Caladenia argocalla (White Beauty Spider-orchid) – ENDANGERED (EPBC Act)
- C. behrii (Pink-lipped Spider-orchid) – ENDANGERED (EPBC Act)
- C. gladiolata (Bayonet Spider-orchid) – ENDANGERED (EPBC Act)
- C. sp. ‘Brentwood’ (Ghost Spider-orchid) – Nominated as CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (EPBC Act)
- C. macroclavia (Large-club Spider-orchid) – ENDANGERED (EPBC Act)
- C. rigida (White Spider-orchid) – EPBC Act – ENDANGERED (EPBC Act)
- C. woolcockiorum (Woolcock’s Spider-orchid) – VULNERABLE (EPBC Act)
- C. xantholeuca (Flinders Ranges Spider-orchid) – ENDANGERED (EPBC Act)
- Pterostylis bryophila (Hindmarsh Valley Greenhood) – CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (EPBC Act)
- P. cucullata (Leafy Greenhood) – VULNERABLE (EPBC Act)
- P. despectans (Lowly Greenhood) – ENDANGERED (EPBC Act)
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P. sp. ‘Halbury’ (Halbury Greenhood) – ENDANGERED (EPBC Act)
The recovery plan describes each of these twelve species in detail including their morphology, distribution, population size, habitat, and ecology. Importantly, it also outlines the threats to each species and prescribes recovery objectives, targets, and actions for the next five years.
- Determine population size and trends
- Determine current extent of occurrence and number of sub-populations
- Mitigate threats to sub-populations.
Recovery actions will be implemented for each of the twelve species in accordance with the recovery plan over the next five years by the LBTORP. Community involvement is recognised as a key factor in the successful delivery of on-ground recovery actions.
Fact sheets and a webpage that provide up to date information on the program were recently completed … Joe Quarmby, Lofty Block Threatened Orchid Recovery Project Officer , SA DEH
(NB Joe Quramby now is the Threatened Flora Ecologist Natural Resources, Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges Partnerships and Stewardship and DEH is now Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, 2014)
The article may be seven years old but it is a good overview of some of the conservation work that NOSSA members have done with Joe Quarmby.
The full 176 page report can be found here.
NOSSA 