School students help Sydney save critically endangered gum

Students from Nepean Christian School have put on their gardening gloves to be part of a ground-breaking conservation project to save the Camden white gum across western Sydney.

Sixty students planted 12 Camden white gum seedlings in the school grounds at Mulgoa to create an insurance population with diverse genetics.

The project is part of the NSW Government’s Saving our Species (SoS) program and aims to establish insurance populations of the critically endangered gum by using specially bred plants.

Six hundred seedlings bred by CSIRO Canberra will be planted across Western Sydney this autumn at 14 different sites to grow new populations to reduce the gum’s potential extinction risk.

A small number of Camden white gums remain in the wild along the Nepean River area but have lost their fitness to survive due to their small population size after decades of land clearing. These gums, due to inbreeding, are now effectively “living dead” trees as they cannot regenerate.

Nepean Christian School students and staff will care for the plants for at least two summers, by regularly watering and maintaining the site, so the seedlings can grow into a mature population.

Once established, the trees will provide shade and canopy cover for up to 300 years, given their incredibly long lifespans. The species gene flow will also increase through pollen exchange, connecting with other isolated subpopulations in the Nepean River corridor. Camden white gums (Eucalyptus benthamii) only remain in small areas with pockets in the Blue Mountains and Western Sydney, which is where the school is based.

The conservation project is managed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)’s Saving our Species Program. DCCEEW works with partners including CSIRO Canberra, Australian Botanic Gardens, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Greater Sydney Local Land Services, Local Landcare Groups, local councils, and private industry such as Sydney Metro Airports.

Threatened Species Officer, DCCEEW, Dr Ahamad Sherieff: said,

“Local school students planting Camden white gums in their school’s backyard will help save this critically endangered species from potential extinction.

“It’s wonderful to see these seedlings planted at the school, where students can learn first-hand about genetic diversity, and the purpose of insurance populations in nature, all while experiencing what a tree needs to grow and thrive.

Principal of Nepean Christian School Dr Cameron Nunn: said,

"We are thrilled to be part of this vital conservation effort. Our students are excited to contribute to saving the Camden white gum and learning about the importance of biodiversity.

 "This project exemplifies the power of collaboration in conservation. By working together, we can secure a future for the Camden white gum and enhance our local environment."

FUN FLORA FACTS

What is an ecological community?

An ecological community is a naturally occurring group of native plants, animals and other organisms living in a unique habitat. It typically includes around 200 species of plants.

The Camden white gum is a key member of the River-flat eucalypt forest community, a listed threatened ecological community (TEC), which can be found from the Sydney area of NSW down to Victoria.

Why is the Camden white gum important?

Camden white gum is a key member of an endangered ecological community called the River-flat eucalypt forest. The gum plays a major role in the ecosystem, providing hollows for birds and marsupials to nest and shelter, foliage for herbivores, pollen and nectar for birds and bees, nutrient cycling to help the ecosystem stay healthy, and litter and fallen branches for ground-dwelling animals.

It is culturally significant to the Gundungurra and Dharawal Aboriginal peoples in many ways, including for traditional medicinal purposes.

Why is the Camden white gum critically endangered?

Camden white gum is facing a serious risk of extinction due to its rapid decline as a result of historic extensive land clearing for agriculture, pastoralism, and urban development.

Camden white gums can live for up to 300 years. With rapid declines, and there are now less than 4,500 genetically distinct trees with reproductive and evolutionary potential.