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Threatened Plants
You will need appropriate video playing software to view video files on this page. Download Windows Media Player or Download QuickTime Player. Threatened plants are those plant species considered to be at risk of extinction in the wild on either a National, State or Regional basis. In South Australia, we refer to these species as Endangered, Vulnerable to extinction, or Rare. Threatened plants are subjected to a range of threatening processes. We are working with the community to overcome these threats and help in the recovery of our region's threatened plants. Ninety-seven nationally threatened plant species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 occur in South Australia. At a State level, about 22 percent of South Australia's plant species are listed as threatened in South Australia under the National Parks and Wildlife (NP&W) Act 1972 (ie 785 out of a total of 3500 plant species recorded in the State). This includes species considered extinct in South Australia. For more information see the Department for Environment and Heritage Threatened Species web page and the State of the Environment Report for South Australia 2003.
West Region's Threatened PlantsThe flora of West Region is unique. The region is where the 'East meets the West' in terms of Australian plants, resulting in a unique mixture of species. West Region is also home to a large number of plant species that are found nowhere else in the world. We call these species 'endemic'. There are approximately 40 endemic plant species on Eyre Peninsula. Unfortunately West Region also has a relatively high number of plant species that are threatened with extinction. On Eyre Peninsula, 26 plant species are listed as nationally threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Ten of these nationally threatened plants are endemic to the peninsula. At a State level, 132 plants found on Eyre Peninsula are listed under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 as threatened in South Australia. A number of plants are also considered threatened on a regional level. Due to a lack of scientific understanding about non-vascular plants (eg mosses, liverworts and algae) and aquatic plant species, it is unclear how many of these types of plants are also threatened, but it could be a significant number. See Threatened Plants on Eyre Peninsula brochure (1.5Mb PDF). See Threatened Flora of the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage's West Region (550Kb PDF) for a list of threatened plant species found on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West.
See the Threatened Plants of Eyre Peninsula and the Far West for a list of selected threatened plants found in our region. ThreatsSpecies that are threatened often live in less than ideal situations, where various processes affect their ability to survive and reproduce. The threatening processes affecting the plants of the West Region vary between species and populations, however common threats include:
These threats are not listed in order of importance, because they differ between species and populations.
RecoveryThe Draft Recovery Plan for 23 Threatened Flora Taxa on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia 2007-2012 (4.5Mb PDF) is one of the most diverse multi-species regional recovery action plans in Australia. It addresses 21 nationally listed and two state listed threatened plant species found on Eyre Peninsula. The Plan provides a comprehensive summary of the region’s threatened flora information and prioritised actions for today’s natural resource custodians. The Draft Recovery Plan is open for public comment until 30 June 2008. See Latest News for details on how you can make a written submission. The Draft Recovery Plan for 23 Threatened Flora Taxa on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia 2007-2012 (4.5Mb PDF) aims to address two long-term conservation goals over 30 years: Goal 1. Recover threatened plant species critical habitat on Eyre Peninsula
In West Region, progress is already being made on many of these recovery objectives. For examples of this work, see the Threatened Plant Recovery Projects section. For more information about the Draft Recovery Plan:
Threatened Species UpdatesWe regularly publish Threatened Species Updates to keep interested people up-to-date with threatened plant conservation activities on Eyre Peninsula. Community Involvement
Volunteers and community groups greatly assist our work and play a key role in threatened plant recovery on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West. Groups that have contributed to the project include:
How You Can Help
Everyone can be involved in helping to save threatened species. If you are interested in volunteering for threatened plant recovery projects on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West, please fill out and submit a Volunteering Form or contact us for more information. Please be aware of native plants and help preserve them by:
For other ideas on how you can help protect our natural environment see Green Tips. Potential Research ProjectsStaff from the West Region of the Department for Environment and Heritage and local volunteers are keen to work in partnership with postgraduate students and other groups on research projects aimed at increasing our knowledge about the biology and ecology of threatened plants in our region. See our list of potential research projects. Threatened Plant Recovery ProjectsNative Orchid Volunteers
A small number of enthusiastic orchid volunteers regularly visit bushland and roadsides across lower Eyre Peninusla to find, monitor and photograph native orchids. Native orchids are often cryptic and difficult to find, but the volunteers have located several previously unknown populations of threatened orchids, including the Metallic Sun-orchid (250Kb PDF) and Winter Spider-orchid. Eyre Peninsula is home to five Nationally threatened orchid species, two of which are found only on Eyre Peninsula. Our volunteers have produced a practical field guide Orchids of Lower Eyre Peninsula (published by Pam Hewstone and Jane Hutchinson, ISBN 0-646-41938-2). Copies are available for purchase from the Department for Environment and Heritage office in Port Lincoln. See Metallic Sun-orchid Information Sheet (250Kb PDF).
Bead Samphire Monitoring
With the help of local volunteers, we are monitoring populations of Bead Samphire (100Kb PDF), a plant listed nationally as Vulnerable to extinction. Bead Samphire grows in saltmarshes and samphire flats, often on the foreshore of salt lakes and on saline flats. The species has been identified as a potential indicator of signs of climate change, particularly environmental changes associated with rising sea-levels, so monitoring Bead Samphire is important work. Bead Samphire plants are monitored at Fowlers Bay, Acraman Creek and Sceale Bay conservation parks, and Arno Bay. Population structure is being monitored to assess changes in the number of juvenile plants, small adults, adults, and those plants that are dying or damaged. See Bead Samphire Information Sheet (100Kb PDF). West Coast Mintbush Recovery
West Coast Mintbush (100Kb PDF) is found nowhere else in the world but on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West (ie it is endemic to our region). The species is listed nationally as Vulnerable to extinction. We are working with the community to conduct grazing monitoring and baseline surveys to help West Coast Mintbush populations recover. West Coast Mintbush is threatened by grazing herbivores including kangaroos, rabbits and livestock. Our monitoring project aims to assess how much West Coast Mintbush plants are being grazed, and how this grazing is impacting the plants' reproduction success. We are also trying to improve our understanding of where West Coast Mintbush is found. Land-holders and community members on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West are encouraged to contact us for an information pack to help record mintbushes in the local area. See West Coast Mintbush Information Sheet (100Kb PDF).
SchoolsA number of schools have made an important contribution to the recovery of threatened plants on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West. Projects have included:
Green CorpsSeveral Green Corps teams have been involved in threatened plant conservation activities on Eyre Peninsula including:
Green Corps is an Australian Government youth development and environmental training program for young people aged between 17 and 20 years.
Lower Eyre Peninsula Bushfire RecoveryAt least seven nationally threatened plant species were impacted by the 2005 Black Tuesday bushfire. The Department for Environment and Heritage has coordinated a scientific program to undertake threatened plant recovery actions as part of the Lower Eyre Peninsula Bushfire Re-establishment Program. See Lower Eyre Peninsula Bushfire Re-establishment Program: Scientific Program.
Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation CentreOur on-the-ground threatened plant recovery projects are complemented by the important work of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre. The primary objective of the Seed Conservation Centre is to undertake seed collections of priority plant species throughout South Australia for the establishment of long-term seed conservation collections, and development of germination and storage protocols for each species collected. Seed from West Coast Mintbush, Whibley's Wattle, Tufted Bush-pea, and other local threatened plants has been collected by the Seed Conservation Centre as part of the international Millenium Seed Bank Project. See the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre.
Threatened Plants of Eyre Peninsula and the Far WestThe following section lists a selection of threatened plant species found in the West Region. More information about some of these species is available by accessing the information sheets, web pages and reports via the links provided. See Threatened Flora of the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage's West Region (550Kb PDF) for a list of threatened plant species found on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West. For more information about individual nationally threatened plant species, see the Australian Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Species Profile and Threats (SPRAT) Database. You can search the SPRAT database for a species profile for any nationally threatened plant species. The database provides information on what the species looks like, its population and distribution, habitat, reproduction, taxonomy, and a useful reference list. List of Selected Nationally Threatened Plant Species Found in the West Region
Endangered (Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)
Vulnerable (Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)
List of Selected State Threatened Plant Species Found in the West RegionEndangered (South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972)
Vulnerable (South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972)
Video Footage
More information
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See video footage of Metallic Sun-orchid habitat after fire, and
the plant's flowers opening in sunlight to attract pollinators 
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