Plerandra calcicola is an endemic tree of New Caledonia restricted to the Chaîne Centrale in Poya around Gohapin and Nétéa.There is an evident threat due to uncontrolled fires which lead to forest reduction as well as habitat degradation due to the invasive Rusa Deer.Population size reduction cannot be assessed because a lack of data.Its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) are no more than 3 km². It is considered to have two locations as a fire could rapidly affect all the individuals at both subpopulations. A continuing decline is projected for its extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, quality of habitat, number of subpopulations and number of mature individuals. Using criteria B, P. calcicola qualifies for EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v). Population size is unknown.

Geographical area

Plerandra calcicola is an endemic tree of New Caledonia restricted to the Chaîne Centrale around the tribes of Netea and Gohapin in Poya (Province Nord).

Population

Population size is unknown.

Habitat

Plerandra calcicola occurs in mesophilous forest at an altitudinal range of 50-135 m on various substrates (calcareous, alluvial).

Threats

The main threat identified is linked to habitat degradation and reduction due to uncontrolled fires that sweep across New Caledonia. The forest patches hosting Plerandra calcicola may be reducing as this area is regularly surrounded by fires. A second threat comes from habitat degradation due to Rusa Deer (Rusa timorensis), which was introduced in the 1880s and adapted extremely well to Caledonian habitats. Its population may have reached over 100,000 individuals into the wild. This rusa deer (Rusa timorensis) consumes a wide variety of plant species and causes severe damage to trees, which results in very little regeneration.

Conservation

Plerandra calcicola is not protected by local legislation and does not occur in any protected area. It is cultivated in plant nurseries of the Gohapin tribe for reforestation purpose.

Bibliography

Lowry, P. P. II; G. M. Plunkett; D. G. Frodin; C. Rodrigues Vaz; M. Gostel and A. N. Nicolas 2016. Revision of Plerandra A. Gray (Araliaceae). III. A taxonomic treatment of Plerandra subg. Dizygotheca..

L'Huillier L.; Jaffré T. and Wulff A. 2010. Mines et Environnement en Nouvelle-Calédonie : les milieux sur substrats ultramafiques et leur restauration.

Experts

Assessor(s): Tanguy, V.

Reviewer(s): Schatz, G.

Contributor(s): Fleurot, D., Vandrot, H., Garnier, D., Birnbaum, P., Amice, R., Cazé, H., Lowry, P., Anquez, M., Gâteblé, G., Barrabé, L., Butin, J.

Facilitator(s): Schatz, G.