Importantly, this was an opportunity to identify those plants which actively respond to a fire, to monitor the recovery of the known flora, and to seek out more than 30 plants that had not previously been recorded for the mountain.

Native violets and pelargoniums, being among the first to respond followed by yam daisies and milkmaids, bloomed in astounding abundance. These latter two species are acknowledged Aboriginal food sources and their numbers may well be associated with past meeting places on 'Ghannabulla'.

One family of plants, the ground orchids, excited most interest, resulting in the National Parks and Wildlife Service volunteer group surveying across a wide range of sites within the State Conservation Area in the spring months. Of most notable interest was the long-anticipated re-appearance of the unique Canobolas Leek Orchid, rediscovered in several locations.

Sun orchids, beard orchids, donkey orchids, finger orchids, spider orchids, hyacinth orchids, potato orchids, onion orchids, and leek orchids - all identified and recorded - are all indicative of the health of the ecosystems and their resilience.

Known threatened species and communities have been of particular concern as well, with scientists from the Office of Environment and Heritage’s Save our Species program surveying known sites and monitoring development.

Some unnamed species on the mountain are considered likely to be given new status when ongoing studies are completed. Others that are so uncommon and precious are being nominated for threatened status. The SCA really is a precious remnant of biodiversity.

Anyone interested in contributing to our knowledge of the area or in volunteering to further explore aspects of the mountain’s diversity, either historical, geological, botanical, Aboriginal or other natural features, is invited to contact the Environmentally COncerned Citizens of Orange or the Orange Field Naturalist and Conservation Society.

This small but vitally diverse area should be conserved in perpetuity for its amazing natural assets, and retained for its scientific value and the appreciation of future generations.

Readers wishing to know more about how Mount Canobolas is responding to the fire are invited to attend a public meeting hosted by ECCO at the Orange Environmental Learning Facility at Orange Showground at 7.30pm on Wednesday, February 27. Contact: 0490 087 424.