Actinokentia huerlimannii
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Actinokentia huerlimannii faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as New Caledonia's unique maquis shrublands are cleared for mining operations and urban development. The species' extremely limited range on ultramafic soils makes it particularly vulnerable to nickel mining activities, which directly destroy the specialized substrate this palm requires. Fire regimes altered by human activity pose an additional threat to remaining populations in this fire-sensitive ecosystem.
Habitat
This endemic palm occurs exclusively in maquis shrublands on ultramafic soils in New Caledonia, typically found on serpentine substrates that support specialized plant communities. The species is restricted to specific geological formations that create the unique soil chemistry required for its survival.
