Gossia virotii is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is restricted to the Tontouta valley (south west of Grande Terre). This shrub is found in scrubland on ultramafic substrate up to 260 m asl. The threats are mainly coming from the mining activities at Opoue in the valley. The other threats are uncontrolled bushfires although the mining company can intervene if needed. These threats are contributing to habitat degradation especially erosion. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 94 and 20 km², respectively, and the number of locations is estimated to be four. Gossia virotii is therefore listed as Endangered under criteria B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,v) with an estimated decline of all the concerned sub-criteria.

Geographical area

Gossia virotii is endemic to New Caledonia where it is restricted to the Tontouta valley (south west of Grande Terre).

Population

The population size is not known.

Habitat

Gossia virotii occurs in scrubland on ultramafic substrate up to 260 m asl.

Threats

The threats are mainly coming from the mining activities at Opoue in the valley. The other threats are uncontrolled bushfires although the mining company can intervene if needed.

Conservation

Gossia virotii is not protected by any legislation in New Caledonia and does not occur in any protected areas. This taxon would benefit from ex situ and in situ emergency conservation actions. It is recommended to monitor and preserve known populations in delimited areas of the mining site, as well as information of the DSCGR (government department overseeing firefighting actions) on the presence of the species in the concerned areas. As long as mining goes on in the valley, it will be difficult to envision perennial conservation measures. It would be better to effectively protect parts of the Tontouta valley.

Bibliography

Snow, N. & Veldkamp, J.F. 2010. Miscellaneous taxonomic and nomenclatural notes for Myrtaceae. Austrobaileya(8) , p.177-186.

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].

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

Experts

Assessor(s): Amice, R., Barrière, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Vandrot, H.

Reviewer(s): Meyer, S.

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