Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287:reg:3:p187
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 187/276)
Character Range: 691565–694853

and Endangered Plants of Norfolk Island. Unpublished report to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Norfolk Island.
TSSC (Threatened Species Scientific Committee) (2003c) Commonwealth Listing Advice for Norfolk Island Flora – 16 Endangered Species.

Boehmeria australis australis—tree nettle, nettletree
Family URTICACEAE

Conservation significance
Endemic to Norfolk Island
EPBC Act Listing Status: Critically Endangered

Description
A small tree or large spreading shrub to 5m tall; monoecious (male and female flowers separate but found on the same tree).

Distribution and abundance
Found in the valleys east of Mt Bates and Mt Pitt, with only 16 individuals sighted during surveys in 1988 (Sykes & Atkinson 1988). Later surveys suggested Boehmeria australis australis was less rare than indicated with small numbers recorded at several sites on the northern side of Mt Bates, and about 30 individuals found in a protected forest remnant on private land (Gilmour & Helman 1989a).
By 2003 there were 33 mature individuals (TSSC 2003a), with a few healthy trees occurring in the north-east corner of the national park. Mills (2012b) noted that regeneration from planted specimens and natural recruitment had increased the population of B. australis australis significantly since 2003 and found a total of 259 plants in the national park, ranging from seedlings to mature plants.
The population has since increased to 591 individuals through propagation and planting as part of the Norfolk Island National Park threatened flora program.
The distribution is shown in Map 28.

Ecology
B. australis australis is a rapidly growing species with a short life span that is adapted to colonising extensive open sites where the ground has been exposed.

Habitat
Grows in an open sheltered habitat on the margins of rainforest remnants (Sykes & Atkinson 1988, Gilmour & Helman 1989a).

Threats
Weed invasion and competition from weeds such as Lantana (Lantana camara), William Taylor (Ageratina riparia), kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus) and wild tobacco (Solanum mauritianum). The species is also threatened by grazing in areas outside of the national park and attack by phytophagous insects (Sykes & Atkinson 1988). Phytophthora cinnamomi is potentially a major risk.
Map 28 Distribution of Boehmeria australis australis
Green outlines indicate reserves within which the species occurs.

Impact on other species
None known.

Risk assessment
Risk assessment undertaken for Critically Endangered trees/shrubs as a grouping. The risk assessment is shown in Table 73.
Table 73 Risk assessment for Critically Endangered trees/shrubs as a grouping
Risk                                                                                                               Likelihood of exposure    Consequence  Threat rating
1. Loss and fragmentation of native vegetation through past land clearing                                          Almost certain (91–100%)  Extreme      Extreme
2. Loss and fragmentation of native vegetation through current or future land clearing                             Rare (0–10%)              Negligible   Negligible
3. Degradation of native vegetation through past grazing or loss of nutrients                                      Almost certain (91–100%)