Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01376:front:0:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01376
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 6009–9172

and utilises this to determine new actions and priorities for Macadamia conservation.
The review of the former Recovery Plan was an initiative of the Macadamia Conservation Committee (MCC) and was undertaken by members of that committee, with funding support from the Australian Macadamia Society and Horticulture Australia Ltd.

Species description and taxonomy
Recent taxonomic reclassification of the Macadamia genus (Mast et al., 2008) has resulted in the five species of the former northern clade being placed in a newly created genus: Lasjia and the four remaining Macadamia species comprising the former southern clade being retained in the genus Macadamia. The four species of Macadamia are genetically similar, and all are mid stratum or sub canopy trees with simple leaves arranged either in whorls of three or four, axillary flowers in brush-like hanging racemes and bear rounded fruits with a hard brown inner shell protecting the nut.

Current species status
The four species of Macadamia are currently listed as either endangered or vulnerable under relevant Commonwealth and State legislation across their respective ranges. In addition, all four species are listed in the Red List for Threatened Plants (IUCN 1997).

Habitat and distribution summary
All four species are endemic to subtropical rainforest or to a lesser extent, wet sclerophyll communities containing a rainforest understory found within the north east New South Wales (NSW) and south east Queensland coastal regions. Except for M. jansenii (which is recorded from a single location approximately 150 km north of its closest congener population), they have overlapping ranges.

Threats summary
Clearing to accommodate human population growth and development, habitat fragmentation, small population size, presence of weed species and altered fire regimes are the major threatening processes affecting Macadamia species. Climate change in the form of variable rainfall and higher temperatures, the potential for genetic pollution from commercial plantations and a lack of public awareness of the conservation status of wild Macadamias are also considered significant potential threats.

Recovery objective
The overall objective of this plan is to ensure the long-term viability of all four Macadamia species through maintaining existing populations and implementing measures to promote recovery.

Summary of actions
Key actions required for the recovery of Macadamia species include:
    * liaising with state agencies, local authorities and regional NRM organisations in order to incorporate Macadamia conservation into their biodiversity conservation and natural resource management strategies.
    * negotiating appropriate agreements with landholders to establish greater long-term security for priority areas on private property.
    * providing land managers with the resources to develop and implement management plans for Macadamia conservation.
    * completing an ex-situ conservation program for M. jansenii.
    * identifying gaps in the current understanding of Macadamia species ecology and commensurate research priorities for conservation.
Additional actions include