Logan City Council has taken steps to ensure the survival of an extremely rare local species of tree.
Gossia gonoclada, a slow-growing shrub commonly known as the ‘angle-stemmed myrtle’, is currently only known to exist naturally in the City of Logan and parts of Brisbane.
Just 33 of the 73 identified naturally growing specimens are in the City of Logan.
These rare and unique plants are adjacent to, or near, the Logan and Albert rivers.
Habitat mapping and propagation programs are already underway with 160 new Gossia gonoclada saplings now planted near the waterways.
To complement these programs, Council has introduced the City of Logan Gossia gonoclada Recovery Plan 2019-2029.
The Recovery Plan will lock in ongoing actions and annual reviews aimed at the long-term preservation and protection of this endangered species.
Logan City Council Director Strategy and Sustainability, David Hansen, said the success of the plan would require collaborative partnerships between Council, various stakeholders and the community.
“This is an endangered species growing in our own backyard and Council is proudly taking the lead in providing pathways to ensure its preservation,” he said.
The aims of the Gossia gonoclada Recovery Plan include:
- Developing and supporting practical and affordable actions to preserve the species
- Promoting and facilitating community engagement in conservation projects
- Contributing to wider efforts to conserve the species in South-East Queensland
The species is threatened by increased incidence of myrtle rust disease, habitat loss and degradation and competition from weeds and introduced exotic species.
