CR

Basselinia vestita

Unknown

Overview

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

Basselinia vestita 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. Forest degradation from invasive plant species and fire further compounds the pressure on remaining populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic palm occurs exclusively in humid forests on ultramafic soils in New Caledonia. It is restricted to specific geological formations with high concentrations of heavy metals, growing in the understory of specialized maquis and forest communities adapted to these nutrient-poor, toxic substrates.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionEx-situ conservationLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Basselinia vestita classified as Critically Endangered?
Basselinia vestita 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 vestita 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. Forest degradation from invasive plant species and fire further compounds the pressure on remaining populations.
Where does Basselinia vestita live?
Basselinia vestita 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 vestita?
The main threats to Basselinia vestita 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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