Casearia kaalaensis is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is restricted to the northwest of Grande Terre. Little known and rather rare, it is found in shrubland on ultramafic substrate between 100 and 600 m asl. Known from three locations, its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 31 km² and 16 km², respectively. The main threat is posed by uncontrolled bushfires. Therefore, C. kaalaensis is listed as Endangered (EN) under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v).

Geographical area

C. kaalaensis is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is restricted to the northwest of Grande Terre (mont Kaala, Siounda, Néhoué).

Population

Population size is unknown.

Habitat

C. kaalaensis occurs in in shrubland on ultramafic substrate between 100 and 600 m asl.

Threats

The main threat is posed by uncontrolled bushfires.

Conservation

C. kaalaensis is protected by legislation in Province Nord, but does not occur in any protected areas. This species 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 and to inform the local authority responsible for the coordination of the firefighting effort about the presence of the species in the concerned areas. It would also be advised to run multiplication tests in order to assist future planting operations. Finally, prospection at Néhoué and the southern slopes of Mont Kaala is needed to better estimate the size of the population and understand potential threats.

Bibliography

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.

Lannuzel, G.; Gâteblé, G.; Fogliani, B. 2017. Etude des Espèces Rares et Menacées des sites miniers de la SMT.

Experts

Assessor(s): Amice, R., Barrière, R., Butin, J., Fleurot, D., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G., Letocart, I., Suprin, B.

Reviewer(s): Veillon, J.

Contributor(s): Russ, L.

Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Tanguy, V.