CRCritically Endangered

Centaurea heldreichii

UnknownCREUCREU

Overview

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

Centaurea heldreichii faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited Greek range. The species is particularly vulnerable to overgrazing by livestock, which degrades the rocky slopes and grasslands where it naturally occurs. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and increased drought stress in its Mediterranean habitat.
Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic Greek species inhabits rocky slopes, dry grasslands, and scrubland areas in mountainous regions. It typically grows in calcareous soils at moderate to high elevations within the Mediterranean climate zone.

Rocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Legislation

Other threatened species in ASTERACEAE

Threatened in Greece

Trichoferus bergeri

Unknown

Lepiota echinella

Unknown

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining

Luschan's Salamander

Lyciasalamandra luschani

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Centaurea heldreichii classified as Critically Endangered?

Centaurea heldreichii 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. Centaurea heldreichii faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited Greek range. The species is particularly vulnerable to overgrazing by livestock, which degrades the rocky slopes and grasslands where it naturally occurs. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and increased drought stress in its Mediterranean habitat.

Where does Centaurea heldreichii live?

Centaurea heldreichii occurs in Greece. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.

What are the main threats to Centaurea heldreichii?

The main threats to Centaurea heldreichii 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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