CR

Basselinia moorei

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Basselinia moorei faces severe threats from mining activities and infrastructure development across its extremely limited range in New Caledonia. The species' restriction to ultramafic soils makes it particularly vulnerable to nickel mining operations, which directly destroy its specialized habitat. Fire regimes and invasive plant species further degrade the remaining forest fragments where this palm persists.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic palm occurs exclusively in humid forests on ultramafic soils in New Caledonia's mountainous regions. It typically grows in the understory and edges of dense rainforest at elevations between 200-800 meters, where the specialized serpentine geology creates unique soil conditions.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionInvasive/problematic species controlSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Basselinia moorei classified as Critically Endangered?
Basselinia moorei is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Basselinia moorei faces severe threats from mining activities and infrastructure development across its extremely limited range in New Caledonia. The species' restriction to ultramafic soils makes it particularly vulnerable to nickel mining operations, which directly destroy its specialized habitat. Fire regimes and invasive plant species further degrade the remaining forest fragments where this palm persists.
Where does Basselinia moorei live?
Basselinia moorei occurs in New Caledonia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Basselinia moorei?
The main threats to Basselinia moorei are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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