Trisyngyne discoidea

There is little literature available regarding threats to Nothofagus species. The species is potentially threatened by three pressures fire, climate change and nickel mining which are having a devastating effect on much of New Caledonia’s flora. The degree to which this impacts the species specifically is not known. The region is experiencing rapid economic growth, rising population and the constant mining for nickel which is causing many species to become fragmented and extinct in parts of the island. Many of the Nothofagus species habituate to lower montane forests (600–800m) which suggests that these species are unlikely to be able to shift in response to a changing climate due to poor wind dispersal and the need for specialised soil conditions.

There are further concerns of a reduced regeneration potential for Nothofagus forests within New Caledonia especially following fires where rainforest is often replaced by xerophytic woodland or maquis. Fire is the greatest threat to this species, due to its occurrence at low elevations. The species is known to suffer from repeated fires, on a yearly basis in some parts of its range (L. Barrabé pers. comm. 2018). As there is growing incidence of fire on the island this could become a greater threat to the species as its native habitat is lost. Nothofagus has not been known to invade these new habitats produced from fire and at present it is not known the extent to which this change impacts N. discoidea (Veblen et al. 1996).

BGCI Plant Search (2017), reports no ex situ collections of this species and it is advised that ex situ collections of this species should be made. The species is found within five protected areas including Thy, Mois de Mai, Faux Bon Secours in Parc de la Rivière Bleue.