Rauvolfia sevenetii is a shrub restricted to south of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is restricted to the area from Port Boisé to barrage de Yaté. It is found in shrubland and forest on an ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range of 30-320 m asl. Recurrent bushfires and on-going mining activities in the area contribute to the degradation and loss of the habitat. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are respectively estimated to be of 117 and 40 km², occurring at an estimated five locations. Rauvolfia sevenetii is therefore assessed as Endangered (EN) under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) with a continuing decline of habitat quality and number of mature individuals.

Geographical area

Rauvolfia sevenetii is an endemic shrub restricted to south of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is restricted to the area from Port Boisé to barrage de Yaté.

Population

This species is abundant where it is found.

Habitat

It is found in shrubland and forest on wet soil on an ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range 50-320 m asl.

Threats

Recurrent bushfires (Port-Boisé, col Paillard) and on-going mining activities in the area (prospection in Kuebini) contribute to the degradation of the habitat. Uncontrolled fires sweep across lowlands of New Caledonia each year, especially during the dry season (an average of 20,000 ha of land is burnt each year). New Caledonia contains 20-30% of the world’s nickel resources. Intense mining activities since the late 19th century has generated soil erosion (1.2% of bare ground mapped by SPOT5 in 2007). Based on the distribution of metal-rich soils and site accessibility, these threats are predictable and planned (rise in nickel production from 60,000 to 200,000 tonnes per year between 2013 and 2015).

Conservation

Rauvolfia sevenetii is protected by the code de l'environnement of Province Nord and Province Sud. It occurs in one protected area: réserve naturelle du barrage de Yaté. This species benefits from ex-situ conservation measures: cutting tests, planting in nursery, and many individuals have been replanted in parc provincial de la Rivière Bleue. Vale NC intends to conduct tests with this species for seed banking consolidation. Efforts must be carried on for in-situ and ex-situ conservation measures.

Bibliography

L'Huillier L.; Jaffré T. and Wulff A. 2010. Mines et Environnement en Nouvelle-Calédonie : les milieux sur substrats ultramafiques et leur restauration.

Wulff AS, Hollingsworth PM, Ahrends A, Jaffré T, Veillon J-M, L’Huillier L, et al. 2013. Conservation Priorities in a Biodiversity Hotspot: Analysis of Narrow Endemic Plant Species in New Caledonia.

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.

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

Experts

Assessor(s): Tanguy, V., Veillon, J., Amice, R., Cazé, H., Chambrey, C., Dubreuil, M., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G., Leborgne, T., Letocart, D., Letocart, I., McCoy, S., Villegente, J.

Reviewer(s): Vandrot, H.

Contributor(s): Wulff, A.

Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V.