Papuacedrus papuana var. arfakensis (Gibbs) R.J.Johns
Mainly known from the Indonesian part of the island of New Guinea. Exploitation for house building and general deforestation in some parts of its range has led to an assessment of Near Threatened.
Description
Taxonomic Notes
Only minor differences in juvenile foliage and male cones separate the two varieties of Papuacedrus papuana. It is debatable whether any varieties should be recognised at all.
Distribution
Indonesia, New Guinea (Papua), Moluccas (Bacan Island and Obi Island). De Laubenfels (1988) mentions Ternate in the Moluccas, but no specimen has been cited or seen from that small and densely populated island. It is not impossible that it was planted there.
In New Guinea, most records come from the Vogelkop Peninsular and the Wissel Lakes area
Habitat and Ecology
Grows in primary forest on acid, peaty soils, into peaty heathland,vegetation prone to fire. Also in montane tropical rainforest mixed with angiosperms, but more abundant in mossy cloud forest. Recorded from altitudes between 700 and 2,400 m asl.
Human Uses
The timber is used for construction of houses in villages, trees are often planted in villages.
Conservation Status
Global Status
Near Threatened
Global Rationale
A population decline is suspected as the timber is valued for construction and human populations are increasing in several parts of its range. However, uncertainty about its full distribution, population size and the extent of the suspected decline, leads to an assessment of Near Threatened.
Conservation Actions
Herbarium collections are recorded from Enarotali Nature Reserve, Gunung Sibela Reserve and Pegunungan Tamrau Utara Nature Reserve.
References and further reading
de Laubenfels, D.J. 1988. Coniferales. Flora Malesiana series I - spermatophyta, flowering plants 10(3).
Farjon, A. 2005. A Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.