1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Country profile
1.2 Vegetation
1.3 Land tenure
1.4 Policy and regulation
1.5 Socio-economic importance
1.6 Importance of forest genetic resources in New Caledonia

1.1 Country profile

New Caledonia is one of the biggest island groups of the South Pacific, with a total land surface of 19 100 km². It comprises four main units:

- the mainland: 16 890 km² (ca 450 (60 km);
- the Isle of Pines, to the south;
- the Loyalty Islands archipelago to the east; and
- the islands of Bélep, Chesterfield and Huon-Surprise to the north.

The population is about 200 000 inhabitants, with 68% in Southern Province (population density ca 19/km²); 21% in Northern Province (population density ca 4/km²); and 11% in Loyalty Islands Province (population density ca 10/km²). The average population density in New Caledonia is estimated to be 10.6/km², and the natural population growth rate is 1.7%.

Ultrabasic rocks form one-third of the land surface, and there is a great diversity of soils.

The climate is subtropical, with some hurricanes, and most rainfall during the first part of the year. The windward, east, coast is wet (2000-4000 mm/year), while the leeward, west, coast is dry (800-1500 mm/year).

As one of the ten tropical forest hot spots of the world, New Caledonia has a very rich natural flora, with more than 3 300 species known. Of those, 77% are endemic, with strong archaic characters. There are about 600 woody species, of which less than 100 are of economic interest. The largest groups are Myrtaceae (223 species), Rubiaceae (218), Euphorbiaceae (150), Araliaceae (102), Cunoniaceae (90), Rutaceae (86), Cyperaceae (72), Gymnospermae (44), Pandanaceae (33) and Palmae (32). Five families of plants are endemic: Amborellaceae (1 species), Oncothecaceae (2), Paracryphiaceae (1), Phellinaceae (10) and Strasburgeriaceae (1).

The biological diversity of New Caledonia (fauna, flora and ecosystems) is of great interest to numerous scientists from Australia, Cuba, eastern Europe, Fiji, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom and USA, as can be deduced from the numerous scientific missions that have visited (see Appendix 8).

1.2 Vegetation

The former isolation, the climatic variability due to relief, and the multiplicity of geological substrata combine to explain the diversity, the endemism and the localization of the natural vegetation (Table 1).

The deforestation rate has been high only for the sclerophyllous forests (= 97%). During one and a half centuries of colonization, the number of plants known to have become extinct is less than 10 species.

Table 1. Natural vegetation in New Caledonia

Natural vegetation type	Rainfall (mm/year)	Altitude (masl)	Surface area (ha)	Location	Features
Rain forest	1500-3500	300-1000	364000 (19%)	Valleys and slopes of the middle range on the mainland	Non-dynamic growth. Archaism. Host of the high-value timbers and most Caledonian conifers. Endemism = 85%. Height >20 m. Several soil types. Diversity of species (trees, ferns, palms, orchids, etc.). »1 800 species of phanerogams. Commercial timber (>60 m3/ha) = 21 × 106 m3
High altitude forest	> 3500	1000-1500	10000 (0.5%)	Tops and ridges of the main range	Cloudy weather. Logging is impossible. Height <15 m.
"Chalky forest"	1800	0-130	93000 (5%)	Loyalty Islands Isle of Pines Some spots on the mainland	Short trees (<20m). Large density of trees, plants and creepers. Rocky soils and flat areas on limestone. Limited logging (Intsia, Araucaria).
Sclerophyllous forest	£ 1000	0-200	» 20000 (1%)	West coast of the mainland	Threatened by bushfires, land clearances, cattle grazing and drought. 379 known species of plants. Endemism = 56%. Height <15 m. Stem diameter <40 cm. No gymnosperms, tree ferns or palms. Many scattered patches of forest. Down from 400 000 some 3 500 years ago.
Arborescent savannah	1000-2500	0-80	226000 (12%)	Hills, slopes and plateaus of the mainland	Poor flora. Damaged by fires. Main, and fire-resistant, species = Niaouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia). Understorey dominated by exotic species: guava, Lantana sp., Leucaena sp., etc.
Maquis (Shrublands)	800-4000	0-1300	412000 (22%)	On Ultrabasic rocks	Unsuitable for cultivation. Edaphic climax. Numerous ligneous species. Endemism = 90%.
Plantations: Pinus elliottii, P. caribaea	1000-2500	0-700	9200	Usually on sedimentary rocks	Introduced in 1958. Height rate = 1-1.4 m/year. Volumetric rate = 10-20 m3/year/ha. 75% in the Northern Province
Plantations: Eucalyptus	1000-1500	0-200	200	Usually on sedimentary rocks	Trials for pulpwood
Plantations: Local species (hardwoods)	1000-3000	50-500	440	In savannah and forests	Araucariaceae, etc. Since 1966. Slow growth. Damaged by deer, hurricanes, etc.
Swamps	1000-3000	0	16000 (0.8%)	N & S parts of mainland	Various fauna.
Mangroves	1000	0	20000 (1%)	W & N of the mainland	Important habitat for fish and birds. Height <10 m. » 20 species of plants.

1.3 Land tenure

The main land tenure types existing in New Caledonia are given in Table 2. People do not use the first three types of forests (rain forest and high altitude forest; sclerophyllous forest; and chalky forest) for cultivation. They prefer the savannah and thickets.

Table 2. Main land tenure types in New Caledonia

Forest type	Land tenure	Activities and uses
Rain forest and high altitude forest	Public land (90%)	Conservation of biodiversity, water and landscape. Hunting, fishing, logging and tourism.
Sclerophyllous forest	Private land	Cattle and deer grazing.
Chalky forest	Melanesian land (95%)	Hunting. Water and soil conservation.
Savannah	Public, private and Melanesian lands	Cattle grazing. Cultivation. Hunting.
Maquis and Araucaria forests	Public-lands	Conservation of biodiversity. Mining activities
Plantations	Public (85%) and Melanesian lands	Logging (sawtimber, poles, fences). Water and soil conservation.
Mangrove	Public land	Conservation. Fishing.

1.4 Policy and regulation

As a French Overseas Territory, New Caledonia has a long tradition of law. Since 1910, because of its increased autonomy, many of the regulations were adapted by the local authorities in order to include its isolation, its Melanesian and European cultures, its special history and status, its mineral and natural resources, etc. The first Forest Service was founded in 1948. A chronology of relevant legislation is provided as Appendix 1.

France has ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Because of its legal status, New Caledonia cannot apply French national laws on forestry, endangered species and habitats, etc. Since 1989, each province of New Caledonia has had its own policy. For example in 1995-97, the Northern Province decided (Développement forestier en Province Nord, Janvier 1995):

• to limit logging in some rich and accessible rain forests (5% of the total area);
• to protect the other native forests;
• to develop plantations of Pinus spp. in order to provide 20% of local needs (with nurseries, roads, economic surveys, pruning, thinning, etc.);
• to stimulate knowledge, protection and planting of native species like Araucaria, Agathis, Montrouziera and Santalum;
• to implement a census and mapping of the main forests (natural and artificial);
• to amplify surveys and the research on wild fauna (status, threats, habitats, etc.);
• to support private and Melanesian landowners with their plantation and development projects;
• to promulgate a law to minimize bushfires;
• to test some exotic species, including mahogany types (such as Khaya spp.) and Grevillea; and
• to popularize discovery of and respect for the forests by local communities and tourists.

To encourage suitable logging of the rain forests, the Permis temporaire d'exploitation (PTE) [Temporary Exploitation Permit], created in 1980, contains several, precise provisions:

• Cutting of "small" trees (stem diameter <50 cm) is forbidden (except on future roads and tracks).
• The permit is valid for a period of 5 years and its boundaries and surface are defined.
• All commercial trees are measured, counted and marked by the Forest Service before logging.
• About 10% of trees (good specimens) are reserved for regeneration.
• The main roads must be constructed by specialists according to Forest Service specifications.
• Damage to trees, water channels and regrowth areas must be minimized.
• Unloading and transport of whole trees (logs + branches) is forbidden.
• Logging is limited or forbidden during the long rainy period (to minimize erosion of soil and to protect water quality).
• The planting of native species after logging is preferred and encouraged.
• A special permit is necessary for the cutting of poles, small trees and dead tree ferns on public lands.

1.5 Socio-economic importance

New Caledonia's per capita Gross National Product (GNP) is US$ 11 800. Local consumption of saw timber in 1997 was 18 196 m³, of which 18% (3 220 m³) came from local production, compared to 30% in 1987. In 1997, 82% (14 976 m³) of saw timber requirements were imported, compared to 70% in 1987, primarily conifer wood from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and USA. The origin of local timber is given in Table 3, and information concerning logging companies and sawmills in New Caledonia are shown in Table 4.

Table 3. Origin of local timber

Province	Production of logs (m3)
	Rain Forests		Pine Plantation		Total
	1997	1998	1997	1998	1997	1998
Southern	1482	757	486	516	1950 (50%)	1273 (28%)
Northern	942	1423	981	1810	1923 (50%)	3233 (72%)
Loyalty Islands	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	2424 (63%)	2180 (48%)	1449 (37%)	2326 (52%)	873 (100%)	506 (100%)

Table 4. Logging companies and sawmills in New Caledonia

	Northern Province	Southern Province
Logging companies	2	3
Sawmills	2	4
Employees	35	38

The land claims, social and political events in New Caledonia, coupled with the cheapness, competition and amount of imported timber, explain the fall in local production (Table 5).

Table 5. Saw timber production (m³) before provincialization in 1989

Periods	Total production (m3)	Principal species
		Houp (Montrouziera)	Tamanou (Calophyllum)	Kaori (Agathis)	Hetre (Kermadecia)	Sapin (Araucaria)
1948-88	392449	98843	73530	58657	47034	22805
Maximum (1979)	21110
Minimum (1950)	3030

The first pine logging was in 1994. This production is currently increasing, especially in Northern Province, where 85% of the productive plantations are situated.

The area logged since 1960 is about 10 000 ha (3% of the total rain forest area). The average logged volumes vary between 10 and 30 m³/ha. The average area logged in rain forest varies between 25 and 80 ha/year. The principal uses of timber in New Caledonia are construction, furniture, fences, carving, power and telephone lines, bridges, etc. Except for the royalties that have to be paid to the Territory, wood is free. These royalties represent 2% of the average cubic metre price of saw timber, calculated for each species.

Since 1986, the average selling price at the sawmill is between CFP franc (CFPF) 35 000 and 80 000 per cubic metre (»US$ 310 and 710). For an equivalent quality product, the difference in the cost can reach 100% between imported sawn timber and local saw timber.

1.6 Importance of forest genetic resources in New Caledonia

Forests and trees are important in New Caledonia for several reasons:

• they provide habitats for endemic animals, especially the entomofauna, herpetofauna and avifauna;
• they supply resources of wood for local and industrial purposes;
• they provide plants and substances for medicine, food, etc;
• they protect soils, water systems and landscapes against fires, tropical rains, etc;
• they provide hunting and fishing;
• they help maintain Melanesian culture (ancestors, cemeteries, tales and legends); and
• they are host to great biological diversity.