CR

Dracophyllum ouaiemense

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Dracophyllum ouaiemense faces severe threats from its extremely restricted range on New Caledonia's ultramafic soils. Mining activities for nickel extraction pose the most immediate danger to remaining populations, directly destroying habitat and fragmenting the already limited suitable terrain. Invasive plant species further degrade the specialized serpentine ecosystems this endemic shrub requires, while fire events can eliminate entire subpopulations given the species' narrow distribution.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic New Caledonian shrub is restricted to ultramafic soils derived from serpentine and peridotite substrates in montane shrublands. It typically occurs in open, low-stature vegetation communities adapted to the nutrient-poor, metal-rich soils characteristic of New Caledonia's mining regions.

Shrubland· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationLegislation

Other threatened species in ERICACEAE

VU

Cavendishia macrocephala

Unknown
EN

Cavendishia sessiliflora

Unknown
VU

Macleania crassa

Unknown
CR

Orthaea caudata

Unknown

Threatened in New Caledonia

EN

Phyllanthus deciduiramus

Declining
VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
EN

Phyllanthus dumbeaensis

Declining
VU

Pittosporum croceum

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Dracophyllum ouaiemense classified as Critically Endangered?
Dracophyllum ouaiemense is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Dracophyllum ouaiemense faces severe threats from its extremely restricted range on New Caledonia's ultramafic soils. Mining activities for nickel extraction pose the most immediate danger to remaining populations, directly destroying habitat and fragmenting the already limited suitable terrain. Invasive plant species further degrade the specialized serpentine ecosystems this endemic shrub requires, while fire events can eliminate entire subpopulations given the species' narrow distribution.
Where does Dracophyllum ouaiemense live?
Dracophyllum ouaiemense occurs in New Caledonia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Dracophyllum ouaiemense?
The main threats to Dracophyllum ouaiemense are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.