Casuarina teres is an endemic tree restricted to the west coast of Grande Terre in New Caledonia (from Pouembout to Voh). It is found in shrubland on ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range 30-200 m asl. On-going mining activities on Koniambo may indirectly impact some subpopulations. However, the main threat identified is linked to the habitat degradation linked to uncontrolled bushfires. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are respectively estimated to be of 64 and 20 km² while the number of locations is estimated to be 3. C. teres is therefore assessed as Endangered (EN) with criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) with a continuing decline of habitat quality and number of individuals.

Geographical area

Casuarina teres is an endemic tree restricted to the west coast of Grande Terre in New Caledonia (from Pouembout to Voh).

Population

Population size is unknown.

Habitat

This species is found in shrubland on ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range 30-200 m asl.

Threats

On-going mining activities on Koniambo may indirectly impact some subpopulations. However, the main threat identified is linked to the habitat degradation linked to uncontrolled bushfires. They sweep across lowlands of 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).

Conservation

This species is protected by the Code de l'environnement of province Nord. It does not occur in any protected area. KNS (Koniambo Nickel SAS) experiments germination and multiplication tests in a nursery.

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., Bruy, D., Dubreuil, M., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G.

Reviewer(s): Amice, R.

Contributor(s): Wulff, A.

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