Neoschmidia calycina is an endemic shrub of the north-western part of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is known from 3 massifs close together: Kopéto, Boulinda and Paéoua. It is found in shrubland or on humid forest on an ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range of 400-1,100 m asl. The main identified threats are mining activities, uncontrolled bushfires and Rusa Deer (Rusa timorensis). Extraction projections for the coming 25 years could lead to a 50% reduction in the impacted subpopulations. Neoschmidia calycina is assessed as Endangered (EN) under criterion A4c with an inferred population reduction of more than 50% over three generations (75 years) starting in 1970 and projected to 2045; and under criteria B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) with the number of threat-defined locations estimated to be four, a continuous decline of all concerned subcriteria and extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are respectively estimated to be of 145 km² and 44 km².

Geographical area

Neoschmidia calycina is an endemic shrub of the north-western part of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. This species is known from 3 massifs close together: Kopéto, Boulinda and Paéoua.

Population

Population size is unknown. Field surveys emphasise that individuals occurs grouped in each subpopulation. Mining extraction projections for the coming 25 years could lead to a 50% reduction in the impacted subpopulations and thus contribute to the potential reduction of the total population size.

Habitat

Neoschmidia calycina is found in shrubland or in humid forest on an ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range of 400-1,100 m asl.

Threats

The main identified threats are from ongoing mining activities (Kopéto), habitat damage by uncontrolled bushfires and Rusa Deer (Rusa timorensis) at Boulinda (400 m), past bushfires at Paéoua and potential future mining projetcs in Paéoua and Boulinda. 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). Additionally, 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). This species has been observed to be significantly affected by Rusa Deer. Introduced in the 1880s, Rusa Deer are now perfectly adapted to New Caledonian habitats.

Conservation

Neoschmidia calycina is protected by legisaltion in Province Nord, however it does not occur in any protected area. Through a partnership in 2015 with IAC (Institut Agronomique néo-Calédonien) and SLN (Société le Nickel) searches outside survey areas and phenologic monitoring have been conducted since 2015. Germination, and propagation tests and impact studies focused on Rusa Deer are ongoing. This species would benefit from ex-situ and in-situ emergency conservation actions. It is proposed to monitor known sub-populations, and to preserve a viable population within delimited perimeters on Kopéto.

Bibliography

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.

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.

Experts

Assessor(s): Tanguy, V., Veillon, J., Amice, R., Barrière, R., Chambrey, C., Fleurot, D., Lannuzel, G.

Reviewer(s): Vandrot, H.

Contributor(s): Wulff, A.

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