Taxonomy
Planchonella pronyensis
Synonyms
Pouteria pronyensis (Guillaumin) comb. ined.Red List Status -
Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 29/11/2019Protected species -
in Northern Province
Planchonella pronyensis is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia, where it has a scattered distribution in the center and south of Grande Terre. It occurs in dense humid forest on ultramafic and volcano-sedimentary substrate up to 650 m asl. The main threat to this species is posed by mining activities. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 5793 and 80 km², respectively, and the number of locations is estimated to be higher than ten. Therefore, P. pronyensis is listed as Near Threatened (NT), close to Vulnerable under criteria B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v).
Geographical area
P. pronyensis is endemic to New Caledonia, where it has a scattered distribution in the center and the south of Grande Terre: from Mt. Aoupinié to Mt. Nakada and from Desmazures to Port Boisé.
Population
Population size is unknown, but field observations indicate that this species is not common.
Habitat
This shrub grows in dense humid forest on ultramafic (and occasionally volcano-sedimentary) substrate up to 650 m asl.
Threats
The main threat to this species is posed by mining activities (Goro), which have already caused the Kwé subpopulation to disappear.
Conservation
P. pronyensis is protected by legislation in Province Nord, and it does occur in three protected areas: Aoupinié and Nodéla natural reserve, as well as Grandes Fougères provincial park. This species is cultivated from seeds by Vale, and over a hundred of plantlets have already been transferred to Rivière Bleue provincial park in 2004 and 2018. Still, to ensure the preservation of viable subpopulations, it is recommended to inform the DSCGR (government department overseeing firefighting actions) on the presence of the species in the concerned areas. Finally, taxonomic studies are recommended to clear up the delimitation of this spcies, potentially being a species complex.
Bibliography
Munzinger J., Morat Ph., Jaffré T., Gâteblé G., Pillon Y., Rouhan G., Bruy, D., Veillon J.-M., & M. Chalopin 2020. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia [continuously updated].
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Aubréville A. 1967. Flore de la Nouvelle Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 01 : Sapotacées.
Experts
Assessor(s): Barrault, J., Bruy, D., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Gâteblé, G., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Munzinger, J., Vandrot, H.
Reviewer(s): Swenson, U.
Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V., Meyer, S., Warimavute, G.