Common Name: Mount Panié Kauri

General Information

Agathis montana is an evergreen tree with a large, flattened crown; it can grow from 10 - 25 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use of its resin. The wood is also possibly harvested. The tree is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
Agathis montana is a long lived conifer (generation length may be ca 500 years) restricted to a single subpopulation in one location in the higher elevations of the Mt. Panié range in Province Nord, New Caledonia. The extent of occurrence is estimated to be 90 km2 and a population decline and habitat degradation have been observed over the last five years and is projected to continue. Twenty percent of the trees within the area of a monitoring programme are already dead: 5% of mature monitored trees died between October 2012 and February 2014, suggesting a projected population reduction of 80% within the next 21 years and a likelihood of there being no mature trees left in 100 years. The plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Western Pacific - New Caledonia

Habitat

Cloud forest, as isolated specimens at lower elevations but forming mono-specific stands abouve 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Critically Endangered
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Young plants grow better in the shelter and shade of the woodland, but require increasing amounts of light as they grow larger[].
Plants are able to withstand very strong winds[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A gum is obtained from the bark, stems, cones etc. It is used as a fuel for camp fires[].
Agathis species in general yield a high quality resin, often known as Manila Copal. The resins obtained from Agathis borneensis, Agathis dammara, Agathis lanceolata, Agathis macrophylla and Agathis philippinensis are the most important commercially, but all members of the genus yield usuable quantities.
The resin is obtained in three forms. Firstly, it naturally exudes from the bark, branches, cones etc of the tree, especially as a result of any damage - some of these exudations can weigh as much as 20 kilos. The second form, known as fossil resin, is dug up from the ground - some of this resin can be of fairly recent origin (perhaps secreted by the roots of trees that have been felled, but much of it can be up to 50,000 years old, perhaps formed on a tree that fell naturally and was then gradually buried. The third form of resin is harvested by tapping the tree, though this can easily damage the tree and lead to premature death.
The resin has a range of applications. Traditionally it has been used as a fuel for camp fires, as a torch, as a waterproofing on boats, as a medicine, the smoke from the burning resin is used as a black dye and for tatooing. The resin is used commercially in making high quality varnishes, lacquers, linoleum[].

The wood obtained from the various species of Agathis is very uniform. It is a cream white or light yellow in colour, often with a pink reflection, turning golden brown on exposure; there is no clear demarcation between heartwood and sapwood. The grain is straight, the texture fine. Drying rate is normal to slow; there is a risk of blue stain. The blunting effect on tools is normal and the peeling and slicing is reported to be good; planed surfaces are lustrous; it takes stains well; nailing is good; gluing is correct[]. It is used for various interior purposes such as high class furniture, veneer, boxes and crates, light carpentry, musical instruments, moulding, sliced veneer, joinery, panelling, matches, wood-ware[].

Propagation

Seed - it cannot tolerate desiccation and does not store for much more than 2 months in normal conditions. It does not require pre-treatment. Sowing is done with the wing part of the seed pointing upwards and 66% of the seed buried in the soil. Germination commences within 6 days, with 90 - 100% germination rates within 10 days[].
Cuttings of leading shoots[].

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