The research article which pertains to our class topics and my year of birth is the following article: https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/content/pdf/10.1023/A:1008815930865.pdf
The study states that in New Caledonia more than 25% of endemic plants are at risk in which 5 species have already faced extinction. They have reviewed the distribution to determine that several of the threatened species were not even located in any conservation area. the middle and north geographical areas of this island are less without any conservation for the plant species. Specifically, the two following vegetation areas: the “sclerophyll forest” and the “unique maquis” both lack any type of conservation. The study looked to increase the protected areas and conservation efficiency for plant species within New Caledonia.
The results showed that 83% of the total 447 plant species do not occur in a protected area with any conservation. The study was conducted out of the concern for the future of the various rainforests as “New Caledonia is one of the 10 hotspots of tropical biodiversity.” The researchers found specifically that rainforests are the least threatened out of all of the other 4 vegetation types since they have the highest amount of conservation efficiency (19.9%). Sclerophyll forests and low or middle altitude maquis found to be the most threatened vegetation types which are located in New Caledonia. However Rainforests do still present high degree of concern for the loss of biodiversity even though they are the least threatened. New Caledonia suggested several initiatives after realizing that 145 rainforest species are of conservation concern.
Lets save our rainforests and our planet!
To read about the initiatives they put forth and more about the threatened species in New Caledonia, please refer to the article link below:
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 