Safeguarding the Future of the Southern Shepherd's Purse

The Southern Shepherd’s Purse (Ballantinia antipoda) is one of Australia’s rarest and most imperilled plants. This tiny annual herb grows in moss mats on granite outcrops, alongside other delicate native species. Once found in Victoria and Tasmania, it has now been lost from all but one known site in Central Victoria. With fewer than 500 plants recorded in recent surveys, the species faces imminent extinction without urgent intervention.

The Southern Shepherd’s Purse is threatened by climate change, with hotter and drier conditions causing moss mats to shrink and reproductive seasons to shorten. Feral animals such as goats, pigs, and deer damage fragile moss mats, while invasive weeds outcompete the plant for space, light, and moisture. Left unchecked, these combined pressures will push the species to extinction.

This project is designed to act now — before it is too late. By securing seed and tissue culture, restoring habitat, and establishing new populations through translocation, we aim to safeguard the future of this unique plant. Funding is urgently required — without it, the Southern Shepherd’s Purse could vanish forever.

Project Strategy

• Habitat protection: Fence critical moss mat sites, control invasive weeds by hand, and reduce impacts from feral animals.

• Ex-situ conservation: Collect seed and tissue for storage at the Victorian Conservation Seedbank and establish a living seed orchard and tissue culture at La Trobe University.

• Hand pollination: Ensure genetic diversity by cross-pollinating plants to produce a robust seed crop.

• Water supplementation: Trial moss mat watering during unseasonal drought to reduce climate stress.

• Translocation: Develop and implement a Translocation Plan in consultation with stakeholders to establish new populations in suitable moss mat habitat.

• Community engagement: Build capacity with volunteers, Traditional Owners, and local groups to support long-term monitoring and habitat care.

Key achievements to date

• Comprehensive surveys confirming sharp population declines from 50,000 plants in 2013 to fewer than 500 plants in 2023.

• Development of detailed weed management and habitat restoration strategies.

• Partnerships established with La Trobe University, Parks Victoria, and local community groups to deliver conservation actions.

• Scientific planning to ensure ex-situ conservation (seed orchard, tissue culture) and translocation readiness.

• establishing rigorous methods for translocations based on field trails.
  

Partners

• Threatened Species Conservancy (TSC) – Program leadership, species experts and delivery

• La Trobe University – Ex-situ conservation, seed orchard, and tissue culture

• Parks Victoria – Land management and on-ground protection

• Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA) – Regulatory and technical support

• Traditional Owners and local community volunteers – Engagement, monitoring, and stewardship

Conservation Status

National (EPBC Act 1999): Endangered

Victoria (FFG Act 1988): Critically Endangered

Costs (Funds Spent & Still Required)

• Estimated Cost of Project: $250,000 (2 years)

• Funding Received: $48,843 (initial grant support)

• Future Needs: Significant additional investment is urgently required to implement habitat protection, seed banking, and translocation before the species is lost.