Taxonomy
Planchonella skottsbergii
Synonyms
Pouteria skottsbergii (Guillaumin) comb. ined.Red List Status -
Critically Endangered (CR) , assessed in 29/11/2019Protected species -
in Northern Province
Planchonella skottsbergii is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia, where it is only known from Montagne des Sources, in the south of Grande Terre. It grows in open shrubland on ultramafic substrate between 700 and 1,000 m asl. The main threat to this species is posed by uncontrolled bushfires. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are both 4 km², and the number of locations is estimated to be one. Therefore, P. skottsbergii is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+B2ab(iii,v).
Geographical area
P. skottsbergii is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is only known from Montagne des Sources, in the south of Grande Terre.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
This shrub grows in open shrubland ('maquis') on ultramafic substrate between 700 and 1,000 m asl.
Threats
The main threat to this species is posed by bushfires, which have already devastated Montagne des Sources recently.
Conservation
P. skottsbergii is protected by legislation in Province Nord, and it probably occurs in three protected areas: Montagne des Sources and Haute Yaté natural reserves and the Rivière Bleue provincial park. This species would benefit from ex-situ and in-situ emergency conservation actions. It is proposed that monitoring should occur to ensure the persistence of the known population. To ensure the preservation of a viable population, it is recommended to inform the DSCGR (government department overseeing firefighting actions) on the presence of the species in the concerned areas.
Bibliography
Aubréville A. 1967. Flore de la Nouvelle Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 01 : Sapotacées.
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].
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Barrault, J., Bruy, D., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Gâteblé, G., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Munzinger, J., Vandrot, H.
Reviewer(s): Swenson, U.
Facilitator(s): Meyer, S., Tanguy, V., Warimavute, G.