Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Critically Endangered (CR) , assessed in 27/09/2022
Croton barrabeae is an endemic shrub of New Caledonia, only known from Houailou-Cap Bocage in the eastern part of Grande Terre. It occurs in scrubland on an ultramafic substrate at approximatively 180 m asl. The main identified threats are linked to ongoing mining activities and bushfires. Its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) are both estimated to be 4 km², while the number of locations is one. The population size is estimated to be 20 mature individuals. C. barrabeae is therefore assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) under criteria B1ab (iii,v)+2ab(iii,v); C2a(i,ii); D with a continuing decline in all concerned subcriteria.
Geographical area
This species is endemic to New Caledonia where it is only known from Houailou-Cap Bocage in the eastern part of Grande Terre.
Population
Field observations indicate a species which is quite rare with an estimated number of 20 mature individuals.
Habitat
This species occurs in scrubland on ultramafic substrate at approximatively 180 m asl.
Threats
The main identified threats are linked to on-going mining activities at Cap Bocage and bushfires.
Conservation
Croton barrabeae is unprotected by legislation and it does not occur in any protected areas. This species would benefit from ex situ and in situ emergency conservation actions. To ensure the persistence of the known population, it is proposed that monitoring should occur on the mining site, as well as information of the DSCGR (government department overseeing firefighting actions) on the presence of the species in the concerned areas. Prospection in Cap Bocage and Baie Ugue are urgently needed.
Bibliography
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].
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Barrière, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Vandrot, H.
Reviewer(s): Meyer, S.
Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Fourdrain, A.