Biconvex Paperbark - Department of the Environment, Water ...

This conservation advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on: 26/3/2008 

A statement for the purposes of approved conservation advice 

(s266B of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) 

Approved Conservation Advice for 

Melaleuca biconvexa (Biconvex Paperbark) 

This Conservation Advice has been developed based on the best available information at the 

time this conservation advice was approved. 

Description 

Melaleuca biconvexa, Family Myrtaceae, also known as Biconvex Paperbark, is a paperbark 

shrub or small tree generally growing to 10 m and on occasion, reaching heights of 20 m. Its 

white flowers are usually clustered in dense heads and the fruit is urn-shaped. Flowering 

occurs over 3–4 weeks in September and October (DEC, 2005a). 

Conservation Status 

Biconvex Paperbark is listed as vulnerable. The species is eligible for listing as vulnerable 

under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC 

Act) as, prior to the EPBC Act, it was listed as vulnerable under Schedule 1 of the 

Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (Cwlth). This species is also listed as vulnerable 

under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW). 

Distribution and Habitat 

Biconvex Paperbark occurs within the Hawkesbury–Nepean, Northern Rivers, Hunter– 

Central Rivers and Southern Rivers (NSW) Natural Resource Management Regions. 

Populations are scattered and disjunct. Within the Gosford and Wyong area most populations 

occur on private land or on road reserves (NSW Scientific Committee, 2002). 

The species occurs in damp places, often near streams and rivers or low-lying areas on 

alluvial soils of low slopes or sheltered aspects. It occurs in coastal districts and adjacent 

tablelands. Biconvex Paperbark may occur in dense stands forming a narrow strip adjacent to 

watercourses, in association with other Melaleuca species or as an understorey species in wet 

forest types. Multiple stems may arise from single rootstocks so that an estimate of population 

size is not possible from visual inspection of stands (NSW Scientific Committee, 2002; 

Biolink, 2006). 

The distribution of this species is not known to overlap with any EPBC Act-listed threatened 

ecological communities. 

Threats 

The main identified threats to Biconvex Paperbark are land clearing; alteration to water tables; 

too-frequent fire; and grazing or trampling by stock. Most populations are on private land and 

there is poor knowledge about the Biconvex Paperbark and its management requirements 

(NSW Scientific Committee, 2002). 

Research Priorities 

Research priorities that would inform future regional and local priority actions include: 

• Design and implement a monitoring program, 

• Research on life history, clonality and ecological requirements of the species, and 

• Undertake survey work in suitable habitat and potential habitat to locate any additional 

populations/occurrences. 

Regional Priority Actions 

The following regional priority recovery and threat abatement actions can be done to support 

the recovery of the Biconvex Paperbark. 

Melaleuca biconvexa Conservation Advice - Page 1 of 3


Habitat Loss, Disturbance and Modification 

• Identify populations of high conservation priority. 

• Manage threats to areas of vegetation that contain populations/occurrences of Biconvex 

Paperbark. 

• Ensure construction and development activities in areas where Biconvex Paperbark occurs 

do not have a significant adverse impact on known populations. 

• Manage any changes to hydrology that may result in changes to the water table levels, 

increased run-off, sedimentation or pollution. 

• Investigate formal conservation arrangements such as the use of covenants, conservation 

agreements or inclusion in reserve tenure. 

Trampling, Browsing or Grazing 

• Develop and implement a stock management plan for roadside verges and travelling stock 

routes. 

Fire 

• Develop and implement a suitable fire management strategy for the Biconvex Paperbark. 

• Identify appropriate intensity and interval of fire to promote seed germination. 

• Provide maps of known occurrences to local and state rural fire services and seek 

inclusion of mitigative measures in bush fire risk management plans, risk register and/or 

operation maps. 

Conservation Information 

• Raise awareness of Biconvex Paperbark within the local community, particularly among 

landholders and local land managers who have the species on their properties. 

Enable Recovery of Additional Sites and/or Populations 

• Investigate options for linking, enhancing or establishing additional populations 

• Implement national translocation protocols (Vallee et al. 2004) if establishing additional 

populations is considered necessary and feasible. 

• Undertake appropriate seed collection and storage. 

• Undertake seed germination and/or vegetative propagation trials to determine the 

requirements for successful establishment. 

Local Priority Actions 

The following local priority recovery and threat abatement actions can be done to support the 

recovery of the Biconvex Paperbark. 

Habitat Loss, Disturbance and Modification 

• Monitor known populations to identify key threats. 

• Monitor the progress of recovery, including the effectiveness of management actions and 

the need to adapt them if necessary. 

• Protect populations on private land through the development of conservation agreements 

and/or covenants. 

Trampling, Browsing or Grazing 

• Prevent grazing pressure at known sites on private property and leased crown land through 

exclusion fencing or other barriers. 

Fire 

• Implement an appropriate fire management strategy for local populations. 

This list does not necessarily encompass all actions that may be of benefit to the Biconvex 

Paperbark, but highlights those that are considered to be of highest priority at the time of 

preparing the conservation advice. 



Existing Plans/Management Prescriptions that are Relevant to the Species 

• NSW Priority Action Statement for the Biconvex Paperbark (DEC, 2005b). 

Information Sources: 

Biolink 2006, Area 13 Urban Investigation Area Local Environmental Study (Ecological Constraints), Biolink 

Pty Ltd Ecological Consultants, Uki, New South Wales. 

Department of Environment and Conservation New South Wales (DEC) 2005a, Biconvex Paperbark 

(Melaleuca biconvex) – Profile, viewed 11 March 2008, 

. 

Department of Environment and Conservation New South Wales (DEC) 2005b, Biconvex Paperbark 

(Melaleuca biconvex) – New South Wales Threatened Species Priority Action Statement, viewed 11 March 2008, 

. 

New South Wales Scientific Committee 2002, Final Determinations of the New South Wales Scientific 

Committee 1999-2002, viewed 11 March 2008, 

. 

Vallee, L, Hogbin, T, Monks, L, Makinson, B, Matthes, M & Rossetto, M 2004, Guidelines for the 

Translocation of Threatened Plants in Australia - Second Edition, Australian Network for Plant Conservation, 

Canberra.

Biconvex Paperbark - Department of the Environment, Water ...

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