Threatened Species Factsheet No. 25 MOLUCCAN

What are they called? What do they look like?

Scientific: bijuga It’s trunk can grow to 1m wide, 7m to Other English: 25m tall and has spreading branches. Borneo/Island The trunk is usually straight, but often French: seen leaning in coastal habitat, with Faux teck peeling bark. Mature have wide Bislama: buttress roots which can reach 4m Natora wide. Vernacular: The leaves are bright, shiny green and Tora (Ambae & round. The flower is a single white (or Pentacost), Kimau (Efate) pink) petal with long red stamens. The among others fruit is a brown/green seed pod up to 15cm long. A little bit about them: This large is in the Leguminosae or “bean” family. Natora is native to Vanuatu and many island countries ranging from eastern Africa to south-east Asia and western Polynesia. Natora prefers Source: Ramon L. 2015. Remarkable of lowland coastal Vanuatu. forests in well-drained limestone, swampy or Did you know? areas. It • The hardwood timber is very can be found up to dense and has insect repellent 450m elevation and is properties. easily grown. • This makes it one of the most valuable timbers in South-east Asia. This species is classified as What do they do for us? Vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN Ø Red List. This species is a good soil stabiliser, and effective Why are they threatened? for erosion control. Ø Their major threat is logging Ø for timber for use as building Natora provides shelter material, fuelwood, carving and nesting sites for birds. (including handicrafts sold Ø It is a good coastal to tourists) and local protection species as it medicine. grows well in swampy Ø It has been over harvested coastal areas and in many places in the world tolerates wind and salt Ø Very few large populations spray. remain. What can we do for them? ü Establish Community Conservation Areas that nationally protect Natora’s natural habitat. ü Use non-threatened species for building materials where possible. ü Make sure plantations are managed sustainably. That is, for every mature tree cut down, many new seedlings are planted to replace it and to be used in the future.

Want to know more? v Visit: www.iucnredlist.org v Contact Vanuatu’s Department of Forests

Source: Ramon L. & Sam C., 2015. Remarkable plants of Vanuatu.