Taxonomy

endemique
protegee
UICN

Synonyms

Homalium leratiorum sensu GuillaminHomalium tontoutense Guillaumin

Red List Status -

Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 29/02/2016

Protected species -

in Southern Province , in Northern Province

Homalium betulifolium is a shrub/small tree restricted to the area of Tontouta on Grande Terre in New Caledonia. It is found in riverbank shrubland on an ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range of 50-400 m asl. The population size is not known but field observations indicate the species locally abundant. This species does not seem directly threatened although a small part of its range (Kalouéhola) is suspected to be affected by on-going mining activities in the valley and recurrent bushfires. New Caledonian official records indicate that forest fires and bushfires destroy, on average, nearly 500 km² per year, and studies have predicted the southern massif has a high risk of wildfire impact (combining fire severity and vegetation loss) (Mangeas et al. 2019). Therefore, due to it occurring at a small number of locations, and having a small extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO), Homalium betulifolium is Near Threatened (NT) close to VU B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v).

Geographical area


Homalium betulifolium is an endemic small tree restricted to the area of Tontouta on Grande Terre in New Caledonia.

Population


Although restricted to the Tontouta valley, this species is abundant.

Habitat


It is found in riverbank shrubland on an ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range 76-400 m asl.

Threats


Recurrent bushfires and on-going mining activities in the valley contribute to the degradation of the habitat. However, this species is abundant and does not seem threatened.

Conservation


Homalium betulifolium is protected by the Code de l'environnement of province Sud and province Nord. However, this species does not occur in any protected area.

Bibliography


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

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

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.

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.

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): Maura, J.

Contributor(s): Wulff, A.

Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V.


Geographical distribution