Lepidocupania mouana
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Lepidocupania mouana faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in New Caledonia's montane forests. Mining activities, particularly nickel extraction, pose a significant threat to remaining populations through direct habitat destruction and soil contamination. The species' restricted distribution makes it highly vulnerable to localized disturbances, with invasive plant species further degrading the quality of its specialized forest habitat.
Habitat
This endemic New Caledonian tree species inhabits humid montane forests at elevations between 400-1,200 meters, typically growing in well-drained soils on ultramafic substrates. It occurs in both primary and secondary forest formations, often associated with other endemic flora in the island's unique sclerophyll forest ecosystems.