Plants are all around us; they’re an integral part of our lives; they fill our fields, forests and parks with greenery, our gardens with colour and wildlife. What we are less aware of is the diversity of the local species and where they grow.
For the first time, Auckland Council has led an assessment of the threat status of vascular plants in the region using the New Zealand Threat Classification System. It’s a comprehensive look at the population size and trends of native species as well as identifying some of the key pressures facing them.
Councillor Richard Hills, Planning, Environment and Parks Committee Chair says the assessment provides valuable evidence to help Council focus on plant conservation efforts over the next few years.
“The report elevates the status of native plants in the region and supports our work in the prioritisation of threatened plant conservation.
"With the information we’ve gained, we’ll be able to plug the gaps in our knowledge and understand where better to focus our conservation efforts.”
A total of 787 native plant species were identified as present in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland, 45 per cent of which are threatened or at risk. 200 species were assessed as “threatened”, 105 as “at risk”, four as non-resident native and 88 as “data deficient”. An additional 27 species were identified as having become extinct.
“As well as gaining information about many of our plants, the report has highlighted what we don’t know,” says Emma Simpkins, Auckland Council’s Senior Regional Advisor (Flora).
“Knowing what we have, and where, is important for managing plant threats such as pathogens, weed competition, browsing by pests and what is needed to protect plant habitats.
“We’ve also highlighted many of our threatened plants don’t grow in forests, they grow in habitats with high disturbance and open areas like scrublands.”
Veronica jovellanoides is one of regionally critical plants identified in the assessment. The region is the national stronghold for this species where it is only found in Auckland’s unique cool forest habitat. Another regionally critical species is Syzygium maire (swamp maire) which is under threat from myrtle rust.
Regionally vulnerable plants identified include Kunzea sinclairii (kānuka) which is only found in Auckland and is endemic to Aotea Great Barrier and Pomaderris hamiltonii where the Auckland region is the national stronghold for the species.
Pomaderris hamiltonii - regionally vulnerable. Credit: Jack Hobbs
One bright spot from the assessment was the finding Epilobium hirtigerum, (hairy willow herb), previously listed regionally “critical”, (one step below extinct) and nationally “at risk”, has beaten the odds and now been listed as “not threatened”. Previously known as the plant version of the kakapo it has benefited significantly from urban development.
“We often refer to the hairy willow herb as a plant “only its mother could love”! It’s an unpretentious plant and one species that needs disturbed ground to survive, so excavation work has done it a favour,” says Emma.
While there are many “data deficient” species in the region, Auckland Council is keen for the botanical community to help look for and report information on native plants through places like iNaturalist to help build the regions collective knowledge.
The survey work was carried out by council staff and local botanists over a six-month period.
Budding botanists who want to learn more about Auckland’s unique flora should visit Auckland Botanic Gardens’ Threatened Native Plants collection.
The report can be read here on Knowledge Auckland.
Notes
“Critical” is the highest ranking under the “threatened” category of the NZ Threat Classification System
Regionally:
Endangered: Euphorbia glauca (waiuatua) and Pseudopanax ferox
At risk – declining: Metrosideros excelsa (pōhutukawa) and Ficinia spiralis (pingao)
Vascular plants have tissue to transport water and nutrients around their systems; non-vascular do not.
National conservation status assessments of New Zealand vascular plants are published every five years as part of the DOC New Zealand Threat Classification Series.
