Afzelia pachyloba
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Afzelia pachyloba faces severe pressure from commercial logging operations targeting its valuable timber, which is highly prized for construction and furniture making. Habitat conversion for agricultural expansion, particularly oil palm plantations and subsistence farming, has fragmented remaining forest populations across its West and Central African range. The species' slow growth rate and limited regeneration capacity make recovery from these disturbances particularly challenging.
Habitat
This large canopy tree inhabits lowland tropical rainforests and semi-deciduous forests across West and Central Africa. It typically occurs in primary and mature secondary forests with well-drained soils, often forming part of the emergent canopy layer.