The monotypic genus Canacomyrica Guillaumin is a small tree endemic to the rare remaining fragments of primary forest growing on ultramafic geology in New Caledonia. In the rich flora of this island it is one of many endemics to be threatened by habitat loss due to a variety of factors, most significantly open-cast mining for nickel. Using field observations and data from herbarium specimens the extent of occurrence of Canacomyrica monticola is established to be approximately 1420 km2. Within this area the distribution of C. monticola is very fragmented and limited to just 11 known localities. Six localities are outside protected areas; two of these may be imminently threatened by mining activity and another may be threatened by bush fires. It is recommended that the IUCN Red List status of Endangered (EN Blab (i,ii,iv,v)) is assigned to this species. © Springer 2006.