Soulamea moratii is an endemic shrub of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is known from two subpopulations: Tchingou and Oua-Tilou. It is found in dense humid forest or altitudinal shrubland on ultramafic substrates at an altitudinal range of 750-1,200 m asl. Population size is unknown. Its Area of Occupancy (AOO) and Extent of Occurrence (EOO) are both estimated at 16 km². This species does not seem significantly threatened. However, the subpopulation of Tchingou may be impacted by potential future mining activities. Such a threat could quickly drive the species to Endangered in the future. Therefore, Soulamea moratii is listed as Near Threatened (NT) close to Vulnerable under criterion D2.

Geographical area

Soulamea moratii is an endemic shrub of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is known of two subpopulations : Tchingou and Oua-Tilou.

Population

Population size is unknown.

Habitat

This species is found in dense humid forest or altitudinal shrubland on an ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range 750-1,200 m asl.

Threats

Currently, S. moratii does not appear to be impacted by any specific threat, but could be significantly affected if mining activities were launched on the massif du Tchingou.

Conservation

Soulamea moratii is not protected by the code de l'environnement of province Nord. It does not occur in any protected area.

Bibliography

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. 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.

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

Wulff AS, Hollingsworth PM, Ahrends A, Jaffré T, Veillon J-M, L’Huillier L, et al. 2013. Conservation Priorities in a Biodiversity Hotspot: Analysis of Narrow Endemic Plant Species in New Caledonia.

Experts

Assessor(s): Tanguy, V., Veillon, J., Bruy, D., Dubreuil, M., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G.

Reviewer(s): Amice, R.

Contributor(s): Wulff, A.

Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S., Tanguy, V.