Hibbertia favieri is an endemic tree known from two stations located in the Plaine des lacs area : north riverbank of lac de Yaté and at the confluence between the Riviere des Lacs and Creek Pernod. Those two sub-populations are considered severely fragmented as they are separated by the lake and the population of Creek Pernod is under extinction. It occurs in ligno-herbaceous shrubland on hydromophic ferralitic soils at an altitudinal range 190-240 m asl. Its area of occupancy (AOO) as its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 12 km². The threats to Hibbertia favieri are linked to habitat degradation due to erosion, crumbling, fire and mining activities (exploration included) resulting into a continuing decline of quality of habitat and number of mature individuals. Observations on two sub-populations report a total population size fewer than 50 mature individuals. Using criteria B, C and D, H. favieri does qualify for (CR) B1 ab(iii,v); C2a(i); D.

Geographical area

Hibbertia favieri is an endemic tree of New Caledonia known from two stations located in the Plaine des lacs area : north riverbank of lac de Yaté and at the confluence between the Riviere des Lacs and Creek Pernod. Those two sub-populations are separated by the lac de Yaté.

Population

Thanks to recent observations on two sub-populations, total population size is estimated to be fewer than 50 mature individuals.

Habitat

It occurs in ligno-herbaceous shrubland on hydromorphic ferralitic soils at an altitudinal range 190-240 m asl.

Threats

Hibbertia favieri may be impacted by uncontrolled bushfire, mining activities (exploration included) and its resulting effects, namely erosion and crumbling. An important threat to biodiversity in New Caledonia comes from past, present and future mining activities. New Caledonia contains between 20 - 30% of the worlds nickel resources. Intense mining activities since the late 19th century generated soil erosion (1.2% of bare ground mapped by SPOT5 in 2007). Based on the distribution of metal-rich soils and site accessibility, these threats are predictable and planned (rise in nickel production from 60,000 to 200,000 tonnes per year between 2013 and 2015). The two known subpopulations of this species are situated on mining concessions (Ouazangou, Mine Saint-Louis) and could be impacted by direct consequences of the mining of ultramafic soils.

Conservation

H.favieri is not protected by legislation but is included in the area covered by The Ramsar Convention. This species would benefit from in-situ and ex-situ emergency conservations actions, and protection of its rivarian habitat ( upriver,down-river). To date, no test on vegetative multiplication has been recorded. It is moreover recommended to prospect actively H. favieri in the part of Creek Pernod, which is expected to be exploited, in the area downstream section between lac de Yaté and creek Pernod, and finally on the riverbank of Yaté river. Include this species in the list of protected species may be beneficial.

Bibliography

Hély-Alleaume 2012. INC : Incendies et biodiversité des éco-systèmes en Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Veillon J.-M.; Müller I.H.; Goldblatt P. 1990. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 16 : Dilléniacées, Goodéniacées, Iridacées, Campynématacées.

Gomez C.; Mangeas M.; Curt T.; Ibanez T.; Munzinger J.; Dumas P.; Jérémy A.; Despinoy M. and Hély C. 2014. Wildfire risk for main vegetation units in a biodiversity hotspot: modeling approach in New Caledonia, South Pacific. Ecology and Evolution(5) , p.377-390.

L'Huillier L.; Jaffré T. and Wulff A. 2010. Mines et Environnement en Nouvelle-Calédonie : les milieux sur substrats ultramafiques et leur restauration.

Morat, P.; Jaffré, T.; Tronchet, F.; Munzinger, J.; Pillon, Y.; Veillon, J.-M. and Chalopin, M. 2012. The taxonomic database « FLORICAL » and characteristics of the indigenous flora of New Caledonia. Adansonia(334) , p.177-219.

Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Experts

Assessor(s): Veillon, J., Amice, R., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Garnier, D., Lannuzel, G., Leborgne, T., McCoy, S.

Reviewer(s): Tanguy, V.

Contributor(s): Fogliani, B.

Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S.