Taxonomy
Synonyms
Neocallitropsis pancheri (Carrière) de Laub. • Neocallitropsis araucarioides (Compton) FlorinRed List Status -
Endangered (EN) , assessed in 03/07/2017Protected species -
in Southern Province , in Northern Province
Callitris pancheri
©www.forestlight.co.uk - Arbre avec lichen (Cladonia sp). Montagne des Sources. Alt. 800 m. Avril 2004. -
There has been an estimated population size reduction of more than 50% over the last three generations resulting in a decline in the area of occupancy and quality of habitat. This is based on levels of past exploitation, the extent of inundation in the 1960s and a comparison of historic and recent herbarium records. The current extent of occurrence (EOO) is estimated to be 3,266 km2. The current area of occupancy is estimated to be 140 km2 with five locations. The main subpopulations are fragmented in terms of their geographic and ecological isolation. A continuing decline in the area of occupancy and quality of habitat is also projected due to the increasing frequency of fires and the effects of mining. There would be a very significant reduction in the extent of occurrence if the subpopulation at Paéoua were to be eliminated. An assessment of Endangered under the A2 and B criteria is reasonable.
Geographical area
Confined to a few localities in the south of Grand Terre, with a single very small subpopulation on the summit of Mt Paéoua, 180 km to the north. No subpopulations have been recorded from the intervening area. Recorded from 30 to 1,140 m asl.
Population
The total population is estimated to be between 2,500 and 10,000. Subpopulations range in size from a few to several hundred individuals (Plateau des Callitropsis). At Mont Paéoua only 45 mature trees have been found.
Habitat
Only found in maquis shrublands on ultramafic substrates.
Threats
Increasing fire frequency is currently the main threat throughout its range. The subpopulation on Mt. Paéoua is also threatened by mining activities. In the past this species was exploited for its resin and wood. Several subpopulations were also inundated by reservoirs behind the Yaté dam in the 1960s.
Conservation
This species is legally protected by province Sud and province Nord. Several of the southern subpopulations occur in protected areas although these are still vulnerable to repeated burning. Restoration work has been initiated at the Chute de Madeleine reserve. This specie is monitored and multiplicated by the mining operator Vale NC and benefit from ex situ conservation plantation (Rare species conservation plan) : 1704 Individus au PPRB. A study on the dynamism of callitris population in the area covered by the Ramsar Convention and in the authorized mining perimeter is underway. This study will define ex-situ and in-situ conservation action adapted to these different population (7 population >30 indidus).
Bibliography
Leslie, A., Beaulieu, J.M., Rai, H., Crane, P., Donoghue, M. and Matthews, S. 2012. Hemisphere-scale differences in conifer evolutionary dynamics.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)(109(40)) , p.16217-16221.
Leslie, A.B., Beaulieu, J., Holman, G., Campbell, C.S., Mei, W., Raubeson, L.R. and Mathews, S. 2018. An overview of extant conifer evolution from the perspective of the fossil record.. American Journal of Botany(105(9)) , p.1-14.
Piggin, J.E. and Bruhl, J.J. 2010. Phylogeny reconstruction of Callitris Vent. (Cupressaceae) and its allies leads to inclusion of Actinostrobus within Callitris.. Australian Journal of Botany(23) , p.69-93.
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].
de Laubenfels, D.J. 1972. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances..
Byng, J. 2015. The Gymnosperms Handbook. A practical guide to extant families and genera of the world..
Farjon, A. 2005. A Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys..
Jaffré, T., Veillon, J.-M. and Cherrier, J.F. 1987. On the occurence of two Cupressaceae, Neocallitropsis pancheri and Libocedrus austrocaledonica in the Mt Paéua area and new sites for the gymnospems in New Caledonia.. Bulletin de Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle Section B Adansonsia(9(3)) , p.273-288.
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.
Jaffré, T., Munzinger, J. & Lowry, P.P. 2010. Threats to the conifer species found on New Caledonia’s ultramafic massifs and proposals for urgently needed measures to improve their protection.. Biodiversity and Conservation (19) , p.1485-1502.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Cazé, H., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Héquet, V., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G., McCoy, S., Suprin, B., Veillon, J.
Reviewer(s): Thomas, P., Gardner, M., Jaffré, T., Munzinger, J.
Contributor(s): Butaud, J., Gueugnier, C.
Facilitator(s): Maura, J., Tanguy, V.