Endemic to the Solomon Islands in the southwest Pacific. Logging mining and shifting agriculture have all had an uncertain impact on this species.
Distribution
Endemic to Solomon Islands although it may also occur on Bougainville (Foremann 1972). The type collection came from Hinuahaoro, Makira [SanCristobal]; also recorded from San Jorge Island near Santa Isabel. Recently it has been collected from Lauru [Choiseul] (Mill 2012). Its distribution is still poorly known and it may occur on several other islands in the Solomon archipelago. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are uncertain due to lack of information.
Very little information is available about its population size or trends. A decline is inferred from the logging, mining and conversion of lowland forests. The extent of the decline is uncertain
Habitat and Ecology
The primary habitat appears to be lowland rainforest, especially on steep slopes although it has also been recorded from Casuarina dominated swamp forests. The altitudinal range varies from near sea level to about 900 m a.s.l. In Lauru [Choiseul] it has been recorded with Dacrydium xanthandrum, Gymnostoma sp and Metroxylon laeve.
Human Uses
Where sizeable trees occur, it is a useful timber tree producing soft, light wood for light construction
Conservation Status
Global Status
Near Threatened
Global Rationale
The distribution and abundance of Podocarpus salomoniensis are poorly known and it is uncertain if it is relatively common or widespread within the Solomon Islands. To date, the majority of herbarium collections have been made in lowland or submontane rainforest. Currently it is only known for certain from three islands although it is likely to occur on others. Lowland rainforest in the Solomons has been the subject of exploitation since the 1960s but the impact of this exploitation on this species is uncertain so that it is difficult to quantify any decline that has, or will occur. In the absence of better data a precautionary assessment of Near Threatened is warranted on the basis that there may have been a 20-29% population reduction in the past three generations (75 years) i.e. it almost qalifies for a threatened listing under criterion A2c
Conservation Actions
The Solomon Islands has very few formally protected areas. However, over the last decade, various initiatives have been implemented to identify areas of high biological diversity and importance and to establish community managed protected areas e.g. the Bauro Highlands on Makira. Some of these areas are close to known localities of P. salomoniensis. It is important that further surveys are carried out to establish whether P. salomoniensis occurs in any of these areas
References and further reading
Dauvergne, P. 1997. Weak states and the environment in Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Working Paper No.10. Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Project, Division of Pacific and Asian History, Research School for Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra
Filardi, C., Boseto, D. and Filardi, C.E. 2007. A preliminary desk study identifying important bird areas (IBAs) in the Solomon Islands. BirdLife International
Foreman, D.B. 1972. A checklist of the vascular plants of Bougainville, with descriptions of some common forest trees. Department of Forestry, Lae, Papua New Guinea
Hancock, I.R. and Henderson, C.P. 1988. Flora of the Solomon Islands
Mill, R.R. and Whiting, M. 2012. Podocarpus orarius (Podocarpaceae), a new species from the Solomon Islands and a taxonomic clarification of Podocarpus spathoides from Malaysia. Garden's Bulletin Singapore 64(1): 171-193
Wein, L. and Chatterton, P. 2006. A Forests Strategy for Solomon Islands 2006-2011: Final Report from WWF SI Forests Strategy Planning Workshop. WWF, Honiara
