Conservation statusConservation status

Conservation status

The Wollemi Pine is listed as a Critically Endangered species under both the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (BC Act) (NSW TSSC 2015) and the Commonwealth Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) (Cwlth TSSC 2018). The species is also listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Thomas 2011; Mackenzie & Auld in press).

The species is listed under Criteria B1ab (iii) (v), B2ab (iii) (v) and C2a (ii) under the EPBC Act. The main reasons for the species’ eligibility are:

1. A highly restricted geographic range with an area of occupancy and extent of occurrence of 4 km2 AND known to exist at only one location AND continuing decline inferred in geographic distribution (extent of occurrence and area of occupancy), area and extent and quality of habitat, and the number of mature individuals.
2. Fewer than 250 mature plants known AND 90-100% of individuals in one population.

Additionally, in 2021, 5,000 ha of land surrounding the wild Wollemi Pine population was declared as an Asset of Intergenerational Significance (AIS) under the amended NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) (NSW NPWS 2022; 2023). This same area is also registered as an Area of Outstanding Biodiversity Value (AOBV) under the BC Act, having been previously declared as Critical Habitat under the repealed NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW DEC 2006b).

The Wollemi Pine is identified as one of 110 priority species under the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan 2022–2032 and the Greater Blue Mountains is identified as one of 20 priority places (DCCEEW 2022).