About this map

This synthetic map of issues related to endemic species in New Caledonia illustrates both the areas where threatened species are concentrated (red gradient) and areas for which data is insufficient (gray). Each grid cell, or square on the map, represents an area of 2x2 km.

Despite the considerable work carried out by botanists since 1870, and even more so in recent years, knowledge of the geographical distribution of flora remains uneven. For example, exploited mining massifs appear as areas of high concentrations of threatened species. This certainly reflects the exceptional richness of these unique environments in the world, but also the fact that these areas have been prioritized for inventory by botanists due to the potential impact of mining.

Conversely, the least inventoried sectors show a low number of threatened species. But this low number is primarily the consequence of a lack of knowledge and not a proven absence of diversity. This is why we have also chosen to present the "no-data" cells, i.e., cells for which no data is available, in order to illustrate this unequal distribution of knowledge, which scientists call sampling bias.

Thus, we hope to awaken vocations and encourage the most curious to participate in the inventory of these areas that remain unexplored.