Hunga cordata is an endemic shrub from New Caledonia, restricted to the north-western part of Grande Terre. It is known from three massifs clustered: Katépahie, Tahafé and Koniambo. It is found in shrubland on serpentine substrate up to 400 m asl. The main identified threats are linked to habitat damage by uncontrolled bushfires and indirectly mining activities (increasing urbanisation in the area, road construction, soil erosion). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are estimated to be of 40 and 12 km², respectively, while the number of locations is estimated to be three. Using criterion B and with the estimation of a continuous decline of its habitat quality, AOO and number of mature individuals, Hunga cordata is assessed as Endangered (EN) B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v).

Geographical area

Hunga cordata is endemic to New Caledonia where it is restricted to the north-western part of Grande Terre. It is known from three massifs clustered: Katépahie, Tahafé and Koniambo.

Population

Population size is unknown.

Habitat

This species occurs in shrubland on serpentine substrate up to 400 m asl.

Threats

The main identified threats are linked to habitat damage by uncontrolled bushfires and indirectly mining activities (increasing urbanisation in the area, road construction, soil erosion).

Conservation

Hunga cordata is protected by legislation in Province Sud and Province Nord and it does not occur in any protected areas. This species would benefit from ex situ and in situ emergency conservation actions. To ensure the persistence of the known population, it is proposed that monitoring should occur on 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.

Bibliography

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

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].

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.

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.