Conservation introduction of a threatened narrow range endemic species, Banksia montana, from the Stirling Range National Park, southern Western Australia

Summary

Banksia montana, a Critically Endangered Western Australian shrub restricted to just four small mountain populations totaling 38 mature individuals in the Stirling Range National Park, faced near-certain extinction from the introduced root pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi, which by 2000 had infested every known population and left no disease-free habitat within its historic range. Western Australia's Department of Environment and Conservation spent over a decade collecting seed from as much of the shrinking population as possible, then in 2002 proposed introducing the species to a secure, disease-free privately owned vegetation remnant 50 km from its natural mountain-top habitat, following independent review and consultation with the landowner. Seedlings were raised at an accredited disease-free nursery and first planted in 2003, with further plantings in 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2010 bringing the introduced population to 136 plants, protected by grazing cages, weekly watering, and strict disease-hygiene protocols including footwear disinfection at property boundaries. By 2010, survival reached 85%, and the introduced population held 115 mature plants, more than three times the 38 mature individuals remaining in the wild; plants also flowered and fruited after just three to four years, far earlier than the roughly nine years typical in the wild, likely due to milder lowland conditions, allowing seed collection for ex situ conservation despite some invertebrate predation on flowers and fruit. The project's success prompted establishment of a second introduction site as further insurance. The project rates itself Highly Successful, citing the species' capacity to survive and flourish well outside its known geographic range.