Recovering Iconic Plant Species

Key species include: 

• Quandong, Native Apricot, narrow-leaved emu bush, striated mintbush and bullock bush across all regions.

• Plumbush, Flinders Ranges Indigo and Vein-Leaf Spyridium in the Flinders and Olary Ranges.

• Sandalwood in the Flinders and Gawler Ranges.

• Toondulya and Tarcoola wattles in the Gawler Ranges.

• Native Orange, Arkaroola Wattle and Silver Indigo in the northern Flinders Ranges.

• Graceful Wattle, Mount Remarkable Daisy Bush and Rough.

• Bush-everlasting in the southern Flinders Ranges.

Photo: Striated Mintbush – Prostanthera striatiflora

Why we need to act

Many of these iconic plant species are culturally significant and maintaining them in the landscape is an important indicator of heathy country for Traditional Owners. 

Additionally, these species can provide an important source of food and shelter for native and threatened fauna, particularly during periods of drought. 

Photo: Arkaroola wattle - Acacia confluens

Threats to the species

The major threats to these iconic plants are;

-        Overgrazing from native and feral herbivore,

-        Extended periods of drought 

-        Land clearance

In the semi-arid ranges, overgrazing poses the greatest threat to many of these species. Browsing from feral herbivores leads to the loss of the lower growth of the plans and a decline in the health of mature individuals. Seedlings of these iconic plants are often decimated by feral herbivores which, over time leads loss of these important plants from the landscape.   

Photo: Sandalwood – Santalum spicatum 

Solution and Approach

This project will contribute towards the ongoing management of rabbits, goats and deer across the three Bounceback Safer Havens. Assessments of the browsing rate and herbivore activity will increase our knowledge on impacts of feral herbivores on these plants.   

The Bounceback program is also using our remote camera network to monitor the numbers of herbivores across the three safer havens to better understand the effectiveness of our management measures.  Using this information, along with the information from the browse assessments, we will continue to reduce the numbers of rabbits, goats and deer across the Bounceback Safer Havens. 

Within our safer havens, where land clearance is prohibited and feral herbivores are consistently managed, we are starting to see the recovery and recruitment of many of these species. 

Photo: Native Orange (Iga) – Capparis mitchellii

Project partners and additional funding information

Creating Three Safer Havens 

A master project in collaboration with the Department for Environment and Water (DEW). 

The aim of the project is to continue to develop and create three unfenced safer havens for the reintroduction of eleven (11) threatened and culturally significant species across three (3) national parks whilst maintaining habitats, increasing climate resilience and ensuring populations are nationally recognised in semi-arid South Australia.