The Davies’ waxflower (Phebalium daviesii) is one of Tasmania’s rarest and most endangered plants. It is only known from a single location on the George River near St Helens, with approximately 40 mature individuals remaining. The Davies’ waxflower was presumed extinct until it was rediscovered in 1990, after not being seen for over 100 years. The population has continued to decline in the last 25 years and is likely to become extinct within 20 years based on the current trajectory and without conservation intervention.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) Threatened Species Section has secured $397,665 in funding through the Federal Government’s Saving Native Species (Priority Species) Grant. The funds are for the implementation of urgent conservation actions to protect the Davies’ waxflower (Phebalium daviesii). NRE Tas has also provided in kind support of $83,000 for the Project.
The two-year Davies’ Waxflower Recovery Project will focus on emergency actions to protect the species from extinction which includes large-scale translocation, improvement of habitat through weed management along George River, genetic diversity studies, and establishing a seed orchard at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
We’re proud to partner with Threatened Plants Tasmania, Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, and Enviro-Dynamics and the Landscape Recovery Foundation to bring this project to life.