New Caledonia - Forest Fires Ravaging endangered forests and wildlife

Forest fires, which have been blazing for nearly two weeks, have engulfed more than 4000 ha in New Caledonia. Several rare plant species have been wiped out. New Caledonia represents a fragment of the ancient super-continent Gondwana. Isolated for approximately 80 million of years, New Caledonian's tropical forest ecosystems are among the most unique on earth. 80 per cent of the 3000 plant species are found nowhere else. French disaster teams had to be rushed in to quell the fire.