Tubuai tropical moist forests
RESOLVE 633
The Tubuai tropical moist forests cover the volcanic Austral Islands of French Polynesia, south of Tahiti, spanning the Tubuai Group (Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae) and the more remote Bass Islands, including Rapa. The islands are eroded volcanic peaks ringed by uplifted limestone reef, and their vegetation grades from coastal lowland forest of Pandanus tectorius, Barringtonia asiatica, and Scaevola taccada up to montane rain and cloud forest dominated by Metrosideros collina, with an unusual set of genera showing New Zealand affinities such as Hebe, Olearia, and Corokia; the moist summit cloud forests form only at higher elevations. Isolation has produced striking endemism, especially on Rapa, where a large share of the native flora and birds such as the Rapa fruit-dove and Rimatara reed warbler occur nowhere else, alongside the flagship Kuhl's lorikeet. The ecoregion is critically threatened, as lowland forest on the main islands has largely been cleared for agriculture, grazing, and fire, with invasive guava, lantana, and rats pressing on what remains. For gardeners, several native genera here, including Metrosideros, Scaevola, and the New Zealand-affiliated Corokia, Hebe, and Olearia, are familiar ornamentals.
About the tropical & subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome
Warm, wet, highly productive forests — including tropical rainforests — with closed canopies, near year-round growing seasons, and the richest terrestrial biodiversity on Earth. Low seasonality and high rainfall sustain dense, layered vegetation from canopy to forest floor.
Catalog plants suited to this ecoregion
No catalog plants intersect this ecoregion's zone range. As the catalog grows to cover this region's climate band, suggestions will surface here.
Collections for this ecoregion
No curated collection's plants all fit this ecoregion's zone range. We surface a collection only when every member would grow here — partial fits get filtered out rather than mislead. As the catalog and the curated set both grow, this section will fill in.