EN

Basselinia porphyrea

Declining

Overview

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

Basselinia porphyrea faces severe pressure from nickel mining operations that destroy its specialized ultramafic habitat in New Caledonia. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and degradation from mining activities. Fire events, both natural and human-induced, pose additional threats to remaining populations in this fire-sensitive palm species.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic palm species occurs exclusively on ultramafic soils in the mountainous regions of New Caledonia. It inhabits specialized maquis shrubland and forest margins on serpentine substrates, typically at elevations between 400-800 meters.

Forest· majorShrubland· major

Conservation measures underway

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

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Basselinia porphyrea classified as Endangered?
Basselinia porphyrea is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Basselinia porphyrea faces severe pressure from nickel mining operations that destroy its specialized ultramafic habitat in New Caledonia. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and degradation from mining activities. Fire events, both natural and human-induced, pose additional threats to remaining populations in this fire-sensitive palm species.
Where does Basselinia porphyrea live?
Basselinia porphyrea 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 porphyrea?
The main threats to Basselinia porphyrea 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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