Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Critically Endangered (CR) , assessed in 05/04/2018Protected species -
in Southern Province , in Northern Province
Trigonostemon cherrieri is a narrowly endemic shrub to the region of Poya, at Mepouri, in the center of Grande Terre. It is known from only a single subpopulation found in dry forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate from 10 to 15 m asl. The main threats impacting this species come from habitat degradation linked directly to invasive species (Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis)), uncontrolled bushfires and land clearing due to agriculture and farming. Its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) are both equal to 8 km², while the species is known to exist at only a single location. T. cherrieri is therefore assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) A4c; B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,v).
Geographical area
T. cherrieri is endemic to New Caledonia where it is only known from the Poya region (south of Mépouri) in the central part of Grande Terre.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
T. cherrieri occurs in dry forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate, from 10 to 15 m asl.
Threats
The main threats impacting this species come from habitat degradation linked to invasive species (Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis), uncontrolled bushfires and land clearing due to agriculture and farming.
Conservation
T. cherrieri is protected by legislation in Province Nord and Province Sud but it does not occur in any protected area. This species occurs in a private proprety, thus awarness to the owner and ex situ and in situ conservation actions is urgent to protect this species. It is proposed to ensure the follow-up of the only known sub-population and to preserve a viable population on delimited perimeters. It is also recommended to inform the DSCGR (emergency services), responsible for the coordination of the firefighting effort, on the presence of the species in the concerned area.
Bibliography
McPherson G.D & Tirel C. 1987. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 14: Euphorbiaceae I.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Veillon J.M. 1992. Présence du genre Trigonostemon Blume (Euphorbiaceae) en Nouvele-Calédonie : description d'une nouvelle espèce, T. cherrieri Veillon. Adansonia(14) , p.55-60.
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.
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Bruy, D., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Chambrey, C., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Gâteblé, G., Goxe, J., Hequet, V., Veillon, J.
Reviewer(s): Lannuzel, G.
Facilitator(s): Meyer, S., Warimavute, G., Barrabé, L.