Taxonomy
Planchonella ulfii
Red List Status -
Critically Endangered (CR) , assessed in 29/11/2019Protected species -
in Northern Province
Planchonella ulfii is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia, where it is only known from Roches de la Ouaieme, in the northeast of Grande Terre. It grows in low vegetation on volcano-sedimentary substrate between 900 and 1,000 m asl. The only known population, comprising about a dozen individuals, is threatened by uncontrolled bushfires. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are both 4 km², and the number of locations is estimated to be one. Therefore, P. ulfii is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+B2ab(iii,v);D.
Geographical area
P. ulfii is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is only known from Roches de la Ouaieme, in the northeast of Grande Terre.
Population
Population size is estimated to be around a dozen individuals.
Habitat
This shrub grows in low vegetation on volcano-sedimentary substrate between 900 and 1,000 m asl.
Threats
The main threat to this species is posed by bushfires, which are frequent in the Ouaieme region and could potentially reach the summits.
Conservation
P. ulfii is protected by legislation in Province Nord, but it does not occur in any protected areas. This species would benefit from ex-situ and in-situ emergency conservation actions. It is proposed that monitoring should occur to ensure the persistence of the known population. To ensure the preservation of a viable population, it is recommended to inform the DSCGR (government department overseeing firefighting actions) on the presence of the species in the concerned areas. The area of Roches de la Ouaïème is extremely rich and hosts numerous narrow-endemic species, which is why it should be classified as a protected area.
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].
Munzinger J. 2015. Novitates neocaledonicae I: An additionnal new species of Planchonella (Sapotaceae) endemic to the Roches de la Ouaième. Phytotaxa(201(1)) , p.71-78.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
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., Meyer, S., Warimavute, G.