Alstonia costata is an autochtonous tree growing up to 10-18 m high from New Caledonia. In New Caledonia it is widely distributed across the Grande Terre, from the far south and the far north of the Grande Terre. This species has a wide distribution across the Pacific region : American Samoa; Cook Islands; Fiji; French Polynesia; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Tonga; Vanuatu. It occurs in dense humid forets and gallery forests along rivers and creeks at an altitudinal range from 0 to 980 m asl. Some subpopulations may be impacted by uncontrolled bushfires and mining activities at Camp des Sapins, Kouaoua, Tiebaghi and Tontouta. However Alstonia costata is common and occurs in several protected areas. Therefore with an Area of Occupancy (AOO) and an Extent of Occurrence (EOO) equal to 396 and 13,520 km², respectively, Alstonia costata is not thought to approach the requirements for listing as threatened. It is listed as Least Concern (LC).

Geographical area

Alstonia costata is native species of New Caledonia. In New Caledonia it is widely distributed across the Grande Terre, from the far south and the far north of the Grande Terre. This species has a wide distribution across the Pacific region : American Samoa; Cook Islands; Fiji; French Polynesia; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Tonga; Vanuatu.

Population

The population size is not known. Field prospections indicate that the species is common.

Habitat

Alstonia costata occurs in dense humid forets and gallery forests along rivers and creeks at an altitudinal range from 0 to 980 m asl.

Threats

This species does not seem to be threatened although some subpopulations may be impacted by uncontrolled bushfires and mining activities at Camp des Sapins, Kouaoua, Tiebaghi and Tontouta.

Conservation

Alstonia costata is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does occur in several protected areas: Rivière bleue, Aoupinié, Forêt cachée, Haute Dumbéa, Haute Yaté, la Dumbéa, Montagne des sources, Mont Mou, Mont Panié, Parc des Grandes Fougères, Vallée de la Thy.

Bibliography

Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Boiteau Pierre avec collaboration de Lucie Allorge 1982. Flore de la Nouvelle Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 10 : Apocynacées.

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.

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].

Experts

Assessor(s): Amice, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Gâteblé, G., Garnier, D., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., McCoy, S., Vandrot, H., Pillon, Y.

Reviewer(s): Fourdrain, A.

Facilitator(s): Meyer, S., Warimavute, G.