Abstract
Araucaria muelleri is a slow-growing forest tree species that is restricted to ultramafic substrate types in the southern third of the main island of New Caledonia. Its present distribution is patchy and reflects major recent human impacts on the forests within its geographic range. About 5000 mature individuals of A. muelleri are known from 5 major localities within an area 40 km from east to west and 25 km from north to south. large remnant stands remain at high altitude (1000 m) in reserved lands at Mt des Sourcesj otherwise, the species is restricted to very small stands, mostly on lateritic boulder fields (cuirasse) of the Goro Plateau at about 300m altitude.