Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

A GREENPRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
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Honey. The honey industry is of high economic value (honey and beeswax) and is heavily dependent
on wild populations of flowering plants (though accompanied by controversy since honey bees are
believed to be inefficient pollinators of local native plants (Pyke 1990).
Fibre, fodder, resin, essential oils. A number of the plants listed by Cribb and Cribb (1982) are
found in the Shire.
Plant species have traditional importance to the Aboriginal people, for their everyday sustenance, shelter
and survival, and for ceremonial and ritual purposes. Frequently individual plants in particular environmental
contexts have significance as markers or meeting places. There is a responsibility to ensure that plant resources
remain available for the continuity of Aboriginal association with the environment, and for the reintroduction
of practices which have been lost.
Local species may also have cultural significance for non-Aboriginal people. The Coolamon (Durobby) is
identified with the Mullumbimby area, as is reflected in the names of the Coolamon Villa and the Coolamon
Scenic Drive. For many people, the Red Cedar is symbolic of the history and culture of the timber industry
and of present day concern for rainforest conservation.
To preserve these values now and for the future, the Shire’s flora species must be conserved, in their
ecological context. Plants such as Rough-shelled Bush Nut and Davidsons Plum may not be in danger of
extinction as a species as they are well-established in cultivation. However, they are at risk of extinction in
the wild. The maintenance of wild populations is essential to conserve genetic diversity and to maintain
interactions between each species and its biotic and abiotic environments.
5.3 FLORA SPECIES OF CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE – DEFINITIONS
The conservation of biodiversity is traditionally approached at the ecosystem, species and genetic levels,
with priority and specific protection normally assigned on the basis of rarity and threat. Conservation at the
species level is the focus of this section. The preservation of the complete range of genetic variation within
each species is a desirable objective, since it is likely to reflect adaptation to local environmental conditions,
and will potentially allow the species to survive e.g. climate change. There may also be genetically-controlled
variation in characters relevant to economic uses of the plants (oil yield, timber quality etc.). Little is known
about the extent and spatial variation of genetic variation in most species, so it must generally be assumed
that conservation of each species over its total geographic range, together with obviously different forms
and any populations adapted to conditions atypical for the species in general, should capture a significant
proportion of variation. Listing taxa at the sub-specific level and protecting Endangered populations are
both possible under the TSC Act, 1995.
While it is desirable to protect and manage all native species for their conservation values, management
tasks require significant input of resources, and priorities must be set. Conservation codes have been developed
reflecting abundance, range, degree of threat and reservation adequacy to guide assessment of conservation
values and allocation of resources.
Three levels of definition for conservation significance apply in New South Wales:
a) Specific legal protection is accorded to plants that are listed on one of three schedules of the
TSC Act, 1995 (Table 5.1). Abundance, range and degree of threat are considered in assigning
species to schedules.
b) More comprehensive information about the conservation status of plant species is included in
the ROTAP (Rare or Threatened Australian Plants) codes (Table 5.2). These species do not have
legal protection, except where they are also scheduled under the TSC Act.
c) Numerical regional (Upper North East NSW) significance codes have been developed by
Sheringham and Westaway (1995) (Table 5.3). Their coding system incorporates the ROTAP
code (category 1), and categories indicating other aspects of rarity, endemism or distribution.