Pittosporum kaalense is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia restricted to the west coast of Grande Terre, with the Baraoua river as the southern border and Mount Kaala as the northern one. This species occurs in dense humid forest and on forest edges between 100 and 900 m asl. Its area of occupancy and extent of occurrence are respectively 128 and 1,746 km². With a total of 6 locations of which 4 are affected by mining activities, the area of occupancy and quality of habitat of P. kaalense are considered in state of continuous decline. The population size of P. kaalense is unknown but sub-populations seem quite dense by station within a locality. Using criteria B, P.kaalense qualifies as Vulnerable (VU) B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii).

Geographical area

P. kaalense is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia restricted to the west coast of Grande Terre, with the Baraoua river as the southern border and Mount Kaala as northern border.

Population

Population size is not precisely known, but P. kaalense seems to form quite dense sub-populations.

Habitat

P. kaalense is found in dense humid forest and on forest edges between 100 and 900 m asl.

Threats

Due to its predominance on ultramafic massifs, P. kaalense is highly impacted by past, currently ongoing and future mining activities. New Caledonia contains between 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). Damage to habitat caused by rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) and pigs, invasive species in New Caledonia, also constitute sizeable threats.

Conservation

P. kaalense is not protected by any legislation nor does it occur in any protected areas. Due to its predominance on ultramafic massifs, it should be necessary that some conservation measures and management policies be established on mines to prevent the extinction of this, and other similar, species.

Bibliography

Tirel, C. & Veillon J.-M. 2002. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 24 : Pittosporaceae.

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.

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

Experts

Assessor(s): Gemmill, C., Veillon, J., Amice, R., Cazé, H., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Gâteblé, G., Maggia, L.

Reviewer(s): Tanguy, V.

Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S.