Endemic to New Caledonia where it is usually found as an emergent in lower to middle-montane forest. Threats include open cast mining fire.
Distribution
Araucaria laubenfelsii is concentrated in the southern ultramafic massifs of the Grand Terre at 400 to 1,300 m. It is relatively uncommon and confined to a limited number of locations
Habitat and Ecology
Usually found as an emergent in lower to middle-montane forest or as smaller trees in "maquis minier". Restricted to ultramafic substrates derived from serpentine or peridotite, or on lateritic soil at lower elevations. In some areas it is associated with Araucaria montana and A. biramulata.
Human Uses
No specific uses have been recorded for this species.
Conservation Status
Global Status & Rationale
Near Threatened
Some small, northern subpopulations and locations (Mt Kaala and Canala) may have been affected by mining and its associated activities. The main southern subpopulations are generally healthy and regenerating well. An increase in the frequency of fires in the southern areas and a re-evaluation of the northern populations could lead to a listing of either Endangered or Vulnerable, under Criterion B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) (which it almost meets at present).
Global threats
Open cast mining and its associated activities (road building, spoil dumping) may have effected subpopulations in Mt Kaala and those in the Canala area. In the southern parts of its range, where the majority of subpopulations and locations are, fires and the associated increased fragmentation pose the main threat.
Conservation Actions
Most of the southern subpopulations are within protected areas.
References and further reading
Jaffré, T., Munzinger, J. and Lowry, P.P. 2010. Threats to the conifer species found on New Caledonia's ultramafic massifs and proposals for urgently needed measures to improve their protection. Biodiversity and Conservation 19: 1485-1502: DOI 10.1007/s10531-010-9780-6
Rigg, L., Enright, N., Jaffré, T. & Perry, G. 2010. Contrasting population dynamics of the endemic New Caledonian conifer Araucaria laubenfelsii in maquis and rain forest. Biotropica 42(4): 479-487.
