Dry Forest Conservation Program in New Caledonia

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1 Dry Forest Conservation Program in New Caledonia Photo: Pic Jacob (Kelly Matthews) New Caledonia - A global biodiversity hotspot 1

2 Rich Biodiversity: o 3,500 species of plants o106 species of endemic reptiles o 3 species of endemic mammals o 6 species of endemic bats o 4,500 species of invertebrates (90% endemic). o 23 species of endemic birds. The UNESCO List of World Natural Heritage sites. 3 three major native vegetation types: o Maquis Scrubland, o Evergreen Rainforest, and o Tropical Dry Forest. Other vegetation types include mangroves, along the west coast. Source: Conservation International Dry Forest Biodiversity 456 plant species from 83 botanical families - 74% strictly endemic They include rare lianas, shrubs and grasses and the endangered plant Captaincookia margaretae which is the only member of its genus. Some species have less than 10 individual id plants. 2

3 Location of Dry Forest Threats Urbanisation Land clearing Bushfire -The tropical dry forest in Lepredour, that contained the only populations of Pittosporum tanianum and Leptostylis sp., has recently been destroyed by fire. Exotic plants and animals (rusa deer and electric ant) 3

4 Dry Forest Conservation Program WWF France worked closely with government and local agencies, scientific institutes, NGOs, and local landowners to coordinate and catalyse efforts to implement the rescue of this important ecoregion. As a result, all local stakeholders have ratified a 5-year programme document. Steps 1. Definition of landscape unit for Dry Forest in New Caledonia. 2. Identification and mapping of all dry forest landscape unit within the island. 3. Development of a management strategy and action for one particular landscape unit. 4

5 Why should we envisaged a landscape level? An eco-socio-systemic study of the environment at landscape level of the forest remnants is necessary to evaluate all inter-actions, positive or negative, existing or potential, between landscape components and dry forest. Advantage of Landscape level given the limited area of the dry forest remnants, their ecological viability can only be envisaged by implementing measures at the level of the landscape which contains them. at landscape level, stakeholders can contribute to dry forest ecological restoration objectives by adapting their activity and therefore their impact on the landscape matrix. 5

6 Objectives The biodiversity conservation landscape will have to comply with the four main objectives of the biodiversity view for New Caledonian dry forest. resilience of dry forest biodiversity to global environment changes (climatic changes) development of viable animal and plant populations conservation of the main ecological processes preservation of representatives of all biological communities 11 Definition 1- Define Landscape Unit Composition of an area that influences the use and the evolution of the dry forest and its ecological viability. Define the composition of the ecological landscape Core zones (Spatial distribution of the forest patches) Buffer zones Corridors Corridor Core Area Buffer zone 6

7 1- Define Landscape Unit (Cont.) Social-economic component Contours of the landscape Human settlement and infrastructure Property boundaries Agricultural matrix : reclaiming land for dry forest and changing agropastoral practice; Urban matrix: strategy of enrichment of public and private gardens with dry forest species. 2 Mapping Methodology Obj_Slope Obj_Veg Status 7

8 2 Mapping Methodology (Cont. ) Overall score = (factor_scores * weight) * constraint Balabio Sud Phaaye Baaba Golone 15 Distribution of the Dry Forest in New Caledonia (Source: GIS Service) Ougne Malhec Néhoué Koumac Boavoyou Tiéa Néoni Pindaï Pic Jacob Nékoro Port-Laguerre Mépouiri Beaupré Néré Gouaro-Deva Ilot Leprédour p Presqu'île Montagnès EntitesPaysageFS Maa Monts FS_Parcelle_Polygone Mont Téréka corridor type EntitesPaysageFS couloirs écologiques Forêts sèches Soutien écologique Ecoregion zone tampon Pic aux Chèvres Mètres - Zone non constructible Mètres 8

9 3- Management Framework 1) Set up the landscape units 2) Promote the program to the developers as a collaboration of new development projects 3) Identify all the organisations that can take part in the development 4) Technical site visits 5) Action Plan elaboration (e.g. Action sheet) 6) Increase restoration and EntitesPaysageFS FS_Parcelle_Polygone corridor management type couloirs écologiques Soutien écologique 7) Monitoring and improvement of the zone tamponoperations School Built at Tina (K. Matthews) Zone non constructible Mètres Restoration of the dry Forest in Grand Noumea Noumea Landscape (H.Geraux) Thank you Find out more about Dry Forest Conservation Program: