Podocarpus affinis | Threatened Conifers of the World (en-GB)

Podocarpaceae

Podocarpus affinis Seem.

Podocarpus affinis isendemic to one Fijian island. Some parts of its range have ben impacted by forest clearance but the extent of any decline is uncertain.

Distribution

Podocarpus affinis is currently only known from some of the higher ridges on Viti Levu in Fiji. It has an estimated extent of occurrence of ca. 1,400 km² based on herbarium specimens and literature reports. It is known from at least five locations.

Population sizes are unknown although it is reported to be relatively common within its limited habitat in some areas (Morrison and Nawadra 2009).

Habitat and Ecology

Restricted to ridges and stunted forests at higher altitudes (600 to 960 m asl). Often associated with Syzygium effusum in cloud forests.

Human Uses

No specific uses have been recorded for this species

Conservation Status

Global Status

Near Threatened

Globla Rationale

Podocarpus affinis has a restricted extent of occurrence (ca. 1,400 km²) well within the threshold for listing as Endangered under the B1 criterion. It is known from more than five locations and the subpopulations are not severely fragmented as defined under the IUCN Red List Guidelines. There is likely to have been some recent decline in the quality of its habitat in parts of its range due to deforestation and forest clearance. The extent of the decline is uncertain. At this stage an assessment of Near Threatened seems most appropriate (almost qualifies under B1ab(iii)).

Conservation Actions

Currently this species is not known from any protected areas although it is known to occur within the Protection Forests surrounding the Monasavu Dam. It is also listed under Schedule 1 of Fiji's Endangered and Protected Species Act (2002).

References and further reading

Keppel, G. (2005). Botanical Studies within the PABITRA Wet-Zone Transect, Viti Levu, Fiji. Pacific Science 59(2): 165-174.
Keppel, G., A. Naikatini, I. Rounds, R. Pressey, N. Thomas (2015). Local and expert knowledge improve conservation assessment of rare and iconic Fijian tree species. Pacific Conservation Biology 21(3):214-219.
James, S. (2008). Climate Change Impacts on Native Plant Communities in Melanesia. In: S.J. Leisz and J. Burke Burnett (eds), CCBM Paper 8. Climate Change and Biodiversity in Melanesia. Technical Report 42(8). Bishop Museum
Ministry of Fisheries and Forests. 2002. Endangered and Protected Species Act 2002 (Fiji)
Morrison, C. and Nawadra, S. (ed.). (2009). A rapid biodiversity assessment of the Nakauvadra Highlands, Ra Province, Fiji. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 57. Conservation International, Arlington, VA, USA.
Olson, D., Farley, L., Patrick, A., Watling, D., Tuiwawa, M., Masibalavu, V., Lenoa, L., Bogiva, A., Qauqau, I., Atherton, J., Caginitoba, A., Tokota’a, M., Prasad, P., NaisilisilI, W., Raikabula, A., Mailautoka, K., Morley, C. and Allnutt, T. (2009). Priority Forests for Conservation in Fiji: landscapes, hotspots and ecological processes. Oryx 44(1): 57-70.
Thomas, P. (2013). Podocarpus affinis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T31053A2801991. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T31053A2801991.en. Downloaded on 04 December 2015.
Smith, A.C. (1979). Flora Vitiensis Nova: a new Flora of Fiji. Pacific Tropical Botanic Garden, Hawaii.
Tuiwawa, M. (2005). Recent Changes in the Upland Watershed Forest of Monasavu, a Cloud Forest Site along the PABITRA Gateway Transect on Viti Levu, Fiji. Pacific Science 59(2): 159-163.