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New Caledonia is one of the world's top "biodiversity hotspots" and over 76% of it's plants are endemic. The three main types of vegetation found on New Caledonia are moist evergreen forest, sclerophyllous forest and heath-like maquis scrub. The only islands in the world with a higher level of plant endemism are Hawaii, New Zealand, and Madagascar.
Sizeable forests are found inland but the most distinctive tree is the Araucaria Pine which can be mainly found on or near coastlines. New Caledonia's vegetation has a lot in common with nearby Australia.
Moist evergreen forests
have a closed canopy of moderately sized trees (up to 20 m at lower elevations;
about 3-8 m at higher altitudes), and cover 22% of the territory, including
about 3,000 km² on Grande Terre, mostly in the east and mountainous center
of the island, and an additional 1,000 km² in the Loyalty Islands and
on a portion of the Isle of Pines. Sclerophyllous forests with its dense,
closed canopy occurs mostly on Grande Terre and is dominated by semi-deciduous
trees. Maquis vegetation is characterised as low, sclerophyllous, evergreen,
heath-like plants and are found on various altitudes on Grande Terre and other
nearby islands. There are Sandalwood forests, mangrove swamps and savanna
grasslands.
Three types of reserves exist in New caledonia; nature reserves, special
botanical or fauna reserves and one territorial park. The level of protection
in each type of park varies. The islands sit on the edge of the tropics, and
the weather varies little, with mild, spring-like conditions for most of the
year, tempered by the ocean. The flora looks tropical and temperate.
Original versions of our photos can be purchased & web versions can be shared subject to conditions.