Syzygium schlechterianum is an endemic shrub from New Caledonia restricted to the north east of Grande Terre, from Roches de la Ouaième to Mt. Mandjelia. It occurs in dense humid forest on volcano sedimentary substrate between 600 and 1200 m asl. The population size is unknown. The main threats identified are bushfires and invasive species (Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa)) causing a degradation of its habitat quality. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 92 and 28 km², respectively, with an estimation of 4 locations. Therefore, S. schlechterianum is listed as Endangered (EN) under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+B2ab(iii,v).

Geographical area

S. schlechterianum is endemic to New Caledonia where it is restricted to the north east of Grande Terre, from Roches de la Ouaième to Mt. Mandjelia. It is known from four subpopulations: Mandjelia, Diahoué, Mont Panié and Roches de la Ouaième.

Population

Population size is unknown.

Habitat

S. schlechterianum occurs in dense humid forest on volcano sedimentary substrate between 600 and 1,200 m asl.

Threats

The main threats identified are bushfires and invasive species (Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa)) causing a degradation of its habitat quality.

Conservation

This species is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does not occur in any protected area. This species should be included in the regional legislation for a better protection of the species and ex situ and in situ conservation efforts are urgently needed, in particular : ensuring the follow-up of the known sub-populations and preserving it on delimited perimeters. The local authority responsible for the coordination of the firefighting effort should be informed about the presence of the species in the concerned areas. And it is recommended to improve the knowledge of the species (prospections, more herbarium specimens, specie's ecology) to better understand its distribution and better estimate its status.

Bibliography

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

Morat, P.; Jaffré, T.; Tronchet, F.; Munzinger, J.; Pillon, Y.; Veillon, J.-M. and Chalopin, M. 2012. Le référentiel taxonomique Florical et les caractéristiques de la flore vasculaire indigène de la Nouvelle-Calédonie [The taxonomic database « FLORICAL » and characteristics of the indigenous flora of New Caledonia]. Adansonia sér 3(34) , p.177-219.

Dawson J.W. 1999. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 23 : Myrtaceae Myrtoideae 1 : Syzygium.

Experts

Assessor(s): Héquet, V., Vandrot, H., Barrabé, L., Amice, R., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Suprin, B., Chambrey, C., Laudereau, C., Haverkamp, C., Fogliani, B.

Reviewer(s): Gâteblé, G.

Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V., Warimavute, G., Meyer, S.