Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Critically Endangered (CR) , assessed in 09/06/2017Protected species -
in Southern Province , in Northern Province
Paphia paniensis is an endemic shrub know only from Mont Panié in the north eastern part of Grande Terre in New Caledonia. It is found in summits forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate at an altitude range of 1,500-1,600 m asl. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are both estimated 4 km² while the number of location is estimated to be one. Paphia paniensis is therefore assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) with criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) with a continuing decline of habitat quality.
Geographical area
Paphia paniensis is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia, known only from Mont Panié in the north eastern part of Grande Terre.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
Paphia paniensis is found in summits forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate at an altitude range of 1,500-1,600 m asl.
Threats
The main threath is the decline of habitat quality caused by rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa).
Conservation
Protected species by legislation in province Nord, Paphia paniensis occurs in a single protected area: Mt Panié. Ex situ and in situ conservation efforts are urgently needed, in particular: ensuring the follow-up of the only known subpopulations and preserving viable populations on fenced perimeters.
Bibliography
Virot, R. 1975. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 06 : Epacridacées.
Munzinger J., Morat Ph., Jaffré T., Gâteblé G., Pillon Y., Tronchet F., Veillon J.-M. and M. Chalopin 2016. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia. vers. 22.IV.2016.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Venter S. & Munzinger J. 2007. Paphia paniensis (Ericaceae), a new species from New Caledonia critically compared with P. neocaledonica . New Zealand Journal of Botany (45) , p.5.
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): Amice, R., Barrabé, L., Cazé, H., Chambrey, C., Garnier, D., Héquet, V., Letocart, D., Letocart, I.
Reviewer(s): Veillon, J.
Contributor(s): Vandrot, H.
Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V., Warimavute, G., Maura, J.