Melaleuca brevisepala is a shrub, endemic to the north-west of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is known from a population in Poum at Babouillat, and one herbarium specimen collected in Mount Kaala dated from 1925. It is found in shrubland on ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range of 5-650 m asl. The main identified threats are linked to habitat damage by uncontrolled bushfires on Babouillat and Kaala and mining activities on Mount Kaala. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are respectively estimated to be of 9 and 8 km² while the number of locations are estimated to be two. Melaleuca brevisepala is therefore assessed as Endangered (EN) with criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) with a continuing decline of habitat quality and number of mature individuals.

Geographical area

Melaleuca brevisepala is a shrub, endemic to the north-west of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is known from a population in Poum at Babouillat, and one herbarium specimen collected in Mount Kaala which dated from 1925.

Population

Population size is unknown. Expert knowledge suggests that there should be others sub-populations.

Habitat

Melaleuca brevisepala is found in shrubland on ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range of 5-650 m asl.

Threats

The main identified threats are linked to habitat damage by uncontrolled bushfires and mining activities. Uncontrolled bushfires sweep across New Caledonia each year, especially during the dry season (an average of 20,000 ha of land is burnt each year, with dramatic peaks of 70,000 ha). Lowest parts of ultramafic areas are particularly exposed to such risk. Moreover, ongoing mining activities on north-west massifs are additional threats. New Caledonia contains 20 - 30% of the world’s nickel resources and has experienced intense mining activities since the late 19th century which 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 (there was a rise in nickel production from 60,000 to 200,000 tonnes per year between 2013 and 2015).

Conservation

This species is not protected by legislation. It does not occur in any protected area. Field surveys are urgently needed around Mount Kaala (because it may no longer persist there) and lowest parts of Tiébaghi. If the species were to be rediscovered on Mount Kaala, it would benefit from in situ and ex situ emergency conservation actions. It would be recommended to ensure the monitoring of existing populations, and to preserve viable populations on delimited areas on mining zones. It would be moreover advised to conduct propagation tests in order to assist future planting operations.

Bibliography

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

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.

Experts

Assessor(s): Tanguy, V., Veillon, J., Amice, R., Barrière, R., Fleurot, D., Gailhbaud, P., Garnier, D., Suprin, B.

Reviewer(s): Vandrot, H.

Contributor(s): Wulff, A.

Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V., Chanfreau, S.