Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287:reg:3:p194
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 194/276)
Character Range: 715722–719407

Parks and Wildlife Service, Norfolk Island.
TSSC (Threatened Species Scientific Committee) (2003c) Commonwealth Listing Advice for Norfolk Island Flora – 16 Endangered Species.

Coprosma pilosa—mountain coprosma
Family RUBIACEAE

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

Description
Shrub or small tree to 6m tall with small green flowers, dark green hairy leaves and cone shaped dark bluish-purple fruit.

Distribution and abundance
The entire population of Coprosoma pilosa is found within the higher sections of Norfolk Island National Park and began to regenerate naturally following removal of cattle from the national park.
There were 260 individuals in 1995 (Anderson & Cochrane 1995) and 187 mature individuals in 2003 (TSSC 2003c). Mills (2012b) recorded 338 plants (ranging from small seedlings to mature trees) in the higher parts of the mountains in the national park. The population estimate in 2021 was 420 individuals.
The distribution is shown in Map 32.

Ecology
This species only seeds occasionally. Dioecious, with wind-pollinated flowers and bird-dispersed seeds.

Habitat
Occurs within moist upland hardwood forest and pine-hardwood ridge forest (Invasive Species Council & TierraMar 2021) and is almost entirely restricted to the higher parts of the mountains in the national park. Can be found down to about 180 metres, with very few growing at lower altitudes (Mills 2012b).

Threats
C. pilosa is threatened by its small population size/limited distribution and subsequent increased risk of extinction through natural events such as cyclones, slips and drought. Weed invasion and competition is also a threat. The epiphytic mistletoe (Ileostylus micranthus) favours C. pilosa as its host, and heavy infestations can kill the host plant. Changes in the climate of the mountain tops may threaten the species. Phytophthora cinnamomi is potentially a major risk.

Impact on other species
None known.
Map 32 Distribution of Coprosma pilosa
Green outlines indicate reserves within which the species occurs. Green shading shows plant communities within which the species may occur (Christian & Mills 2021).

Risk assessment
Risk assessment undertaken for Endangered trees/shrubs as a grouping. The risk assessment is shown in Table 81.
Table 81 Risk assessment for 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%)  Extreme      Extreme
4. Degradation of native vegetation through current or future grazing                                              Possible (26–50%)         Moderate     Medium
6. Predation by rodents                                                                                            Almost certain (91–100%)  Moderate     High
7. Predation by cats                                                                                               Rare (0–10%)              Negligible   Negligible
8. Predation or damage by chickens                                                                                 Likely (51–90%)           Moderate     Medium
9. Predation