Hibbertia vieillardii is an endemic tree mostly spread on southern massifs of the main island, Grande Terre, but also found on Mont Poum and Népyes on northern part.It is found in shrubland on ultramafic substrate (maquis minier) at an altitudinal range 20-1400 m asl.The threats to Hibbertia vieillardii are likely to be linked to habitat degradation due to mining activities, the resulting current degradation in erosion but also fire. Population size reduction cannot be assessed because of a lack of data. Its area of occupancy and extent of occurrence are respectively 108 km2 and 8,144 km2. The number of locations, based on habitat degradation as the main threat, is about 15. Owing to past and current fire and mining activities, a continuing decline of the quality of habitat is observed and projected. Using criteria B, H. vieillardii does qualify for Near Threatened (NT) close to Vulnerable (VU) B1ab(iii)&2ab(iii). Population size of mature individuals is unknown.

Aire géographique

Hibbertia vieillardii is an endemic tree mostly spread on southern massifs of the main island, Grande Terre, but also found on Mont Poum and Népyes on northern part.

Population

Population size is unknown, but a decreasing of the sub-population of Thio due to fire and mining activities in the 1950s is recorded.

Habitat

It is found in shrubland on ultramafic substrate at an altitudinal range 20-1400 m asl.

Menaces

The main threat identified is linked to habitat degradation and reduction due to uncontrolled fires that sweep across New Caledonia. The stations of Thio, Canala, Montagne des Sources, Dumbéa and île des Pins may be the most affected. Another second threat comes from mining activities and resulting erosion.

Conservation

H.vieillardii is not protected by legislation but occurs in some protected area (réserve naturelle de la forêt de Saille, réserve naturelle de la Haute Dumbéa, réserve intégrale de la Montagne des Sources, réserve naturelle du Mont Humboldt, réserve naturelle du Mont Do).

Bibliographie

Gomez C.; Mangeas M.; Curt T.; Ibanez T.; Munzinger J.; Dumas P.; Jérémy A.; Despinoy M. and Hély C. 2014. Wildfire risk for main vegetation units in a biodiversity hotspot: modeling approach in New Caledonia, South Pacific. Ecology and Evolution(5) , p.377-390.

Veillon J.-M.; Müller I.H.; Goldblatt P. 1990. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 16 : Dilléniacées, Goodéniacées, Iridacées, Campynématacées.

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

Hély-Alleaume 2012. INC : Incendies et biodiversité des éco-systèmes en Nouvelle-Calédonie.

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

Morat, P.; Jaffré, T.; Tronchet, F.; Munzinger, J.; Pillon, Y.; Veillon, J.-M. and Chalopin, M. 2012. The taxonomic database « FLORICAL » and characteristics of the indigenous flora of New Caledonia. Adansonia(334) , p.177-219.

Experts

Assessor(s): Veillon, J., Amice, R., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Garnier, D., Lannuzel, G., Leborgne, T., McCoy, S.

Reviewer(s): Tanguy, V.

Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S.