Taxonomy
Planchonella mandjeliana
Red List Status -
Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 29/11/2019Protected species -
in Northern Province
Planchonella mandjeliana is an endemic tree of New Caledonia, where it is restricted to the northeast of Grande Terre. It grows in dense humid forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate between 450 and 750 m asl. The main threats to this species concern the Mandjélia locality and are posed by bushfires and invasive species (Caribbean pines). Although it does not seem threatened to this day, its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are low, 31 and 28 km², respectively. Therefore, P. mandjeliana is listed as Near Threatened (NT), close to Vulnerable under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+B2ab(iii,v).
Geographical area
P. mandjeliana is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is restricted to the northeast of Grande Terre, from Mt. Panié to Mandjélia.
Population
Population size is unknown, but field observations indicate that this species is abundant on the slopes of Mt. Panié.
Habitat
This small tree grows in mid elevation dense humid forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate between 450 and 750 m asl.
Threats
The main threat to this species is posed by bushfires and invasive species (Pinus caribaea) on Mt. Mandjélia.
Conservation
P. mandjeliana is protected by legislation in Province Nord, and it occurs in one protected area: Mt. Panié natural reserve. Prospection is recommended to better estimate its distribution in the northeast, especially the western slopes of the mountain range.
Bibliography
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.
Swenson U., Munzinger J. & Bartish I.V. 2007. Molecular phylogeny of Planchonella (Sapotaceae) and eight new species from New Caledonia. Taxon(56(2)) , p.329-354.
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): Tanguy, V., Warimavute, G., Meyer, S.