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Background The bastard gumwood Commidendrum rotundifolium carries an IUCN Red List status of extinct in the wild. Only two cultivated trees remained when in 2007 strong winds destroyed one of the two trees and severely impaired the last known individual of the species. The bastard gumwood tree is one of four species in the endemic genus Commidendrum. Earlier conservation efforts to raise plants from the seed of the cultivated tree resulted in progeny with hybrid characteristics. It is now known that bastard gumwood will hybridise with at least one of its sister species, false gumwood Commidendrum spurium (IUCN Red List Critically Endangered). Unfortunately the bastard gumwood tree which remained had been grown in close proximity to a number of cultivated false gumwoods. Because of the similar appearance of vegetation in the Commidendrum species, hybrid characteristics can only be confirmed visually when the plant matures and produces flowers. This can be further complicated if hybrids backcross with the pure parent, effectively diluting the hybrid character. It is proposed that this project will genetically profile a number of immature plants that were sown prior to 2009 and compare them with the pure tree to ascertain their purity and their subsequent value to the project. Efforts to propagate the bastard gumwood are impeded by the plant's incompatibility mechanism that acts to prevent self pollination. Although seed is produced from all flowers, most is non-viable except for a tiny proportion, where the pollen has evaded the rejection reaction. With funding from DEFRA, made available through JNCC, work was commenced in 2009 to produce pure and viable seed from the remaining tree. An insect proof cage was constructed around the tree to prevent cross pollination from false gumwoods. During the flowering season (November-March) the tree was visited daily. Hundreds of individual florets were subjected to chemical treatments (denaturing and chelation of the stigma surface proteins) and physical treatments (stigma removal with pollen deposited directly onto the style) in an attempt to break down the self incompatibility mechanism. Thousands of hand pollinations were undertaken. Known pollinating insects were captured from remote sites free of commidendrums and introduced to the cage on a daily basis to encourage pollination of untreated inflorescences. All attempts were made to collect every seed produced. The resulting cache of over 250,000 seeds was catalogued and stored following guidelines from Millennium Seed Bank. This propagation effort will be continued throughout the coming flowering season if the remaining tree survives. Germination trials have been undertaken with collected seed and have shown a viability rate of approximately 0.25% (2-3 viable seeds per 1000). To date over 200 seedlings have been grown. These have been test planted at a site provided by the St Helena National Trust. An after care programme continues to monitor growth and control pests and pathogens. The result of this intensive after care programme has been to restrict plant losses to less than 2%. During the efforts to save the bastard gumwood over the past year a fortuitous discovery of a single wild tree growing on a remote cliff was made. Although difficult to access, the discovery of this single mature specimen in the wild and the genetic material it holds now allows St Helena a unique opportunity to develop a self sustaining population of genetically diverse bastard gumwoods. It is hoped that the new tree will be of a compatible genetic strain, thus overcoming the problem of self-rejection. However, as the cultivated plant is now reaching the end of its lifespan, and it will be a number of years before the newly obtained progeny reach flowering age, there may only be a few years when crosses can be made between the two genotypes. It is important that a focussed effort is made during this unique window of opportunity. This project will establish a second bastard gumwood planting site to reduce the risks inherent in having all members of a species located in one small area. The site is within one of St Helena's proposed national protected areas at High Hill. The site fulfils the criteria of remoteness from other commidendrums, has physical characteristics similar to the recorded wild locations of bastard gumwood and is reasonably accessible for restoration work. Additionally this area contains remnant populations of endemic St Helena rosemary(Phylica polifolia), small bellflower (Wahlenbergia angustifolia), hairgrass(Eragrostis saxatilis), tufted sedge (Bulbostylis lichensteiniana) and neglected sedge (Bulbostylis neglecta), the latter rediscovered in 2008 after an absence of 150 years. These are all dryland specialist species and believed to be key components of historical bastard gumwood woodland. The project aims to develop a diverse multi-layered community within the restoration area by addtional planting of these species. This will be achieved by working closely with staff of the critical species nursery at ANRD which, through a recent OTEP project (STH501), now has the specialist skills and capacity to provide the additional plants required. The proposed restoration site currently contains a mix of introduced forestry species and invasive vegetation. The project will clear invasives and immediately fill cleared areas with dense restoration planting to suppress invasive plant re-encroachment and to bolster native plant regeneration. The methods used will be recorded and results monitored and evaluated. Recommendations based on this methodology will be integrated into conservation best practice on the island. Forestry species will be left in situ. The project will undertake to demonstrate that forestry assets and endemic trees can be co-managed on the same site leading to improved diversity and reduced management costs. The susceptibility of bastard gumwood saplings to herbivory will necessitate a stock and rabbit proof fence to be erected around the site during establishment. The existing bastard gumwood test planting site will continue to be developed during the project. With assistance from St Helena National Trust and Conservation Group volunteers further planting of bastard gumwoods and supporting vegetation will be carried out. The project officer and ANRD staff will continue to provide regular monitoring of growth and and pest control. The bastard gumwood is a dryland tree species that along with the now extinct St Helena Ebony tree (Trochetiopsis melanoxylon), has completely disappeared from the natural environment in St Helena. These native trees once occupied the broad denuded perimeter of the island, historically referred to as the Crown Wastes. With increasing demand for water led by the expected tourist industry on St Helena, revegetation of these areas will gradually and permanently contribute to the water retaining capacity of the island with a concomitant reduction in erosion rates. The potential value of this adapted native tree as the climax species in this process and its contribution to long term modification of local climate is likely to be considerable. Conversely, the extinction of another endemic tree species so closely after that of the St Helena Olive in 2003 should be considered unacceptable. The project will employ a part time officer to coordinate the implementation of the project objectives and to liaise between the project stakeholders. This officer will be responsible for regular monitoring and reporting on progress at the proposed site for the life time of the project. Additionally the officer will undertake monitoring and reporting at the existing test site for the first two years of the project. At this stage the future monitoring of the site will be absorbed by the Environmental Conservation Section of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department (ANRD). Objectives - Access to site improved;
- Site management plan produced;
- Restoration site secured from herbivores;
- All potential bastard gumwoods identified as pure or hybrid specimens;
- Sustainable control of invasive species;
- Native habitat established;
- Restoration report produced;
- Robust bastard gumwood population established
Main Activities Under Output 1: Path to site cleared of encroaching vegetation. Path levelled and graded with steps where necessary. Under Output 2: Working group of stakeholders to undertake detailed assessment of site and propose priorities and methodologies to be employed during project lifecycle. A revised plan will propose management regime to be employed post project, this will be produced in consultation with ANRD's ECS staff. Under Output 3: Clearance of site perimeter. Construction of stock and rabbit proof fencing with access gates around site perimeter. Under Output 4: Samples of all potential bastard gumwoods have been taken. These will be analysed in UK at Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Under Ouput 5: Removal of invasive vegetation by appropriate methods. These are documented in work undertaken by the South Atlantic Invasive Species project (2007-9). The area will be cleared in small lots and each replanted with a dense community of native species. Under Output 6: Plants produced by the critical species nursery at ANRD and by conservation volunteers will be established at the site in batches during the project lifecycle. Planting size, spacing, community mix and niche habitats will be recorded and the results monitored to provide data for the restoration report. Under Output 7: Regular monitoring visits will record plant growth, health, pest and diseases and bio control species. These will be followed up by intervention where necessary. Habitat development will be recorded, analysed and the results used to improve the site management plan. Under Output 8: Controlled pollinations and germplasm collection from known pure specimens of bastard gumwood will be continued throughout the project lifecycle following protocols already established. Bastard gumwoods will be produced and planted and after care provided in line with the site management plan. ANRD staff involved in all aspects of site management and development of longer term monitoring and maintenance programme to ensure sustainability of this output. Risk Analysis Risk 1: Personnel cannot be engaged
Probability: Low
Impact: High
Management: Local project officer with requisite skills already identified Risk 2: Existing mature tree dies
Probability: Medium
Impact: Medium
Management: All germplasm generated by the exisitng cultivated tree is being stored following Millennium Seed Bank protocols. Tree regularly monitored for pests, drought and nutritional deficiencies. Risk 3: Viability of seed decreases
Probability: Low
Impact: Medium
Management: All seed sown is monitored for viability. Close attention to seed storage conditions and germination practices should ensure current viability is maintained for life time of the project. Risk 4: Viral or bacterial pathogen infects the bastard gumwood, indentification difficult due to lack of lab facilities and remoteness of island.
Probability: Low
Impact: High
Management: Seed will be germinated at more than one site, plantings will be spread across two different sites, regular monitoring of plant health will be undertaken. Stakeholder Analysis Organisations or stakeholder groups directly benefiting from the project : - The Agriculture and Natural Resources Department will benefit from this project by being able to restore an extremely vulnerable species to a position where core resources and programmes will be able to ensure its survival.
- St Helena National Trust will benefit from its involvement in the project by realising one of its aspirations to conserve St Helena's world class natural heritage as envisioned in the recently launched National Trust Strategy.
- St Helena Tourism is responsible for developing the economy of St Helena through tourism. The bastard gumwood is one of St Helena's (and the world's) most threatened endemic trees and is an important part of the island's unique flora; this work will benefit a key asset in St Helena's tourism product.
Cross-cutting issues Livelihoods The bastard gumwood is a member of St Helena's unique endemic flora, a natural asset which is a key component of St Helena's tourism product and the economy it generates locally. Wider Significance Multilateral Environmental Agreements St Helena Environment Charter This project contributes to the implementation of the following commitments under the St Helena Environment Charter and its Strategy for Action: Commitment 2.b. Develop Protected Areas Policy The site for this project lies within a proposed National Protected Area on St Helena. The site management plan and restoration report from this project will support and inform the formal designation of the NPA as detailed under section 2.b.2 ..... management plans will be needed for the sites listed in the table below, and these need developing (and preparation need not wait for formal designation). Improvements to site access will contribute directly to section 2.b.11. Consider practical and awareness needs to enhance access, where appropriate, so that the value of the protected areas becomes better appreciated. Commitment 2.c. Have in place effective management structures for protection of key habitats, species and landscape features The project will implement specific techniques for invasive species control and report on the results contributing to section 2.c.7. Investigate (including assessment of full consequences of) eradication or control of introduced invasives. The restoration report and management plan for the project will both contribute to the overarching commitment 2c above. Commitment 2.e. Eradicate problem invasive species. Whilst this project will not eradicate any problem invasive species it will contribute to the use and assessment of potentially sustainable methods of control. This will directly contribute to section 2.e.1. Implement plans to reduce introduced vegetation in the hills in a way that enables the spread of endemic and other native species, valuable for conservation, tourist interest and water management. Results from this project will be made available to other parties in order that control of problematic invasive species generally can be made more effective. Commitment 3.a. Integrate environmental considerations within social and economic planning processes. Under this commitment the project will contribute in its media output to section 3.a.8. Emphasise to the people the environmental heritage value of the Island. Commitment 7: Review the range, quality and availability of baseline data for natural resources and biodiversity. The project will provide detailed baseline and post project surveys of habitat within the project site and species abundance reports of the surrounding area. These will be georeferenced, lodged on the national GIS and be made available to interested parties. The project will contribute directly to the following sections: 7.a.16. Develop bio-survey on terrestrial areas, and consider what species to cover; 7.a.19. Assess baseline data for species recovery plans; 7.a.25. Monitor invasive species and their impacts, as well as endemics. Commitment 10.b. Create and promote publications which spread awareness of St Helena's special environmental features. Media articles on the progress of the project will be published locally and significant successes, for example, the event of the first flowering tree from the project, will be shared internationally. St Helena Government's Policy and Planning Priorities: Strategic Objective 1.2.2 Ensure protection and conservation of St Helena's terrestrial marine and built environment. Priority - Develop, fund and implement a medium to long term coherent and appropriate environmental conservation policy that promotes the establishment of self-sustaining habitats, improves the status of our endemic species and results in an informed and responsive society. Convention on Biological Diversity The project will contribute to the CBD, in particular: Under Article 6: General Measures for Conservation and Sustainable Use (b) Integrate as far as possible and as appropriate, the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into relevant sectoral or cross sectoral plans, programmes and policies. Under Article 7:Identification and Monitoring: (a) Identify components of biological diversity important for conservation and sustainable use having regard to the indicative list of categories set down in Annex I; (b) Monitor, through sampling and other techniques, the components of biological diversity identified pursuant to subparagraph (a) above, paying particular attention to those requiring urgent conservation measures and those which offer the greatest potential for sustainable use; (c) Identify processes and categories of activities which have or are likely to have significant adverse impacts on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and monitor their effects through sampling and other techniques; and (d) Maintain and organize, by any mechanism data, derived from identification and monitoring activities pursuant to subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) above Under Article 8: In-situ Conservation (a) Establish a system of protected areas or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological diversity; (b) Develop, where necessary, guidelines for the selection, establishment and management of protected areas or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biological diversity (c) Regulate or manage biological resources important for the conservation of biological diversity whether within or outside protected areas, with a view to ensuring their conservation and sustainable use; (d) Promote the protection of ecosystems, natural habitats and the maintenance of viable populations of species in natural surroundings; (f) Rehabilitate and restore degraded ecosystems and promote the recovery of threatened species, inter alia, through the development and implementation of plans or other management strategies; (h) Prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystem, habitats or species. (i) Endeavour to provide the conditions needed for compatibility between present uses and the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components (m) Cooperate in providing financial and other support for in-situ conservation outlined in subparagraphs (a) to (l) above, particularly to developing countries Under Article 9: Ex-situ Conservation Predominantly for the purpose of complementing in-situ measures: (b) Establish and maintain facilities for ex-situ conservation of and research on plants, animals and micro-organisms, preferably in the country of origin of genetic resources; (c) Adopt measures for the recovery and rehabilitation of threatened species and for their reintroduction into their natural habitats under appropriate conditions; (d) Regulate and manage collection of biological resources from natural habitats for ex-situ conservation purposes so as not to threaten ecosystems and in-situ populations of species, except where special temporary ex-situ measures are required under subparagraph (c) above; (e) Cooperate in providing financial and other support for ex-situ conservation outlined in subparagraphs (a) to (d) above and in the establishment and maintenance of ex-situ conservation facilities in developing countries. Under Article 10: Sustainable Use of Components of Biological Diversity (d) Support local populations to develop and implement remedial action in degraded areas where biological diversity has been reduced; Under Article 13: Public Education and Awareness (a) Promote and encourage understanding of the importance of, and the measures required for, the conservation of biological diversity, as well as its propagation through media, and the inclusion of these topics in educational programmes; Under Article 17: Exchange of information Facilitate the exchange of information, from all publicly available sources, relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, including exchange of results of technical, scientific and socio-economic research, as well as information on training and surveying programmes, specialised knowledge, indigenous and traditional knowledge. Under Article 18: Technical and scientific cooperation Promote international technical and scientific cooperation in the field of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, where necessary, through the appropriate international and national institutions. Global Strategy for Plant Conservation This project will make a direct contribution to the revised (post Nagoya) targets of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (2011-2020). In particular: Target 3: Information, research and associated outputs, and methods necessary to implement the Strategy developed and shared Target 5: At least 75 per cent of the most important areas for plant diversity of each ecological region protected with effective management in place for conserving plants and their genetic diversity. Target 6: At least 75 per cent of production lands in each sector managed sustainably, consistent with the conservation of plant diversity. Target 7: At least 75 per cent of known threatened plant species conserved in situ. Target 8: At least 75 per cent of threatened plant species in ex-situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and at least 20 per cent available for recovery and restoration programmes. Target 16: Institutions, networks and partnerships for plant conservation established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels to achieve the targets of this Strategy Other Information Funded by FCO/DFID Overseas Territories Environment Programme, 2011, project no STH 803
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