Hunga lifouana is an endemic tree from New Caledonia, that grows up to 15 to 20 m tall. It is known from the far north of Grande Terre as well as in Lifou and Ouvéa (Loyalty Islands). This species seems rare and restricted to costal and inland habitats on calcareous substrate (Katcha). In the mainland it occurs in forests and meseic forests on limestone and ultramafic substrates up to 590 m asl. The main threats are posed by bushfires and mining activities in the Grande Terre which represent a very small part of the population. However this species does not seem to be threatened at Loyalty islands. Its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) are respectively estimated to be 48 km² and 13,310 km². Hunga lifouana is therefore listed as Near Threatened (NT), close to VU under criteria B1ab (i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i,ii,ii,v).

Geographical area

Hunga lifouana is endemic to New Caledonia where it is known from the far north of Grande Terre as well as in Lifou and Ouvéa (Loyalty Islands).

Population

Population size is unknown, but field observations indicate that this species seems to be rare.

Habitat

This species is restricted to costal and inland habitats on calcareous substrate (Katcha). In the mainland it occurs in forests and meseic forests on limestone and ultramafic substrates up to 590 m asl.

Threats

The main threats are posed by bushfires and mining activities in the Grande Terre which represent a very small part of the population. However this species does not seem to be threatened at Loyalty islands.

Conservation

Hunga lifouana is protected by legislation in Province Nord, and it does not occur in any protected areas. It is recommended to realise prospection in Loyalty islands,nmainly in Maré to confirm the presence of the species and better estimate the size and the state of the population.

Bibliography

Nielsen(Author), Sir Ghillean T Prance(Author), John R Edmondson(Author) 1983. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances, Volume 12: Legumineuses - Mimosoideae, Chrysobalanaceae, Plombaginaceae.

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.

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].

Butaud, J.-F. 2014. Flore des îles Loyauté (Nouvelle-Calédonie) : plantes patrimoniales, plantes envahissantes et espaces naturels remarquables.

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

Experts

Assessor(s): Amice, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Eltabet, N., Garnier, D., Fleurot, D., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., Vandrot, H.

Reviewer(s): Meyer, S.

Facilitator(s): Fourdrain, A., Warimavute, G.