VU

Svanetian Chickweed

Cerastium svanicum

Unknown

Overview

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

Cerastium svanicum faces severe pressure from habitat degradation in its restricted alpine range in the Greater Caucasus. Climate change poses an escalating threat as warming temperatures force this cold-adapted species to retreat to increasingly limited high-elevation refugia. Tourism development and infrastructure expansion in mountain regions further fragment its already small populations, while overgrazing by livestock degrades the delicate alpine meadow communities where it persists.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic species inhabits alpine and subalpine meadows, rocky slopes, and scree habitats in the Greater Caucasus mountains, typically occurring at elevations between 2,000-3,500 meters. It thrives in well-drained, nutrient-poor soils characteristic of high-altitude environments with short growing seasons and extreme temperature fluctuations.

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Schiedea diffusaCR

Schiedea diffusa

Declining
Schiedea kaalaeCR

Schiedea kaalae

Declining
VU

Pycnophyllum spathulatum

Unknown
VU

Silene aristidis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Svanetian Chickweed classified as Vulnerable?
Svanetian Chickweed is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Cerastium svanicum faces severe pressure from habitat degradation in its restricted alpine range in the Greater Caucasus. Climate change poses an escalating threat as warming temperatures force this cold-adapted species to retreat to increasingly limited high-elevation refugia. Tourism development and infrastructure expansion in mountain regions further fragment its already small populations, while overgrazing by livestock degrades the delicate alpine meadow communities where it persists.
Where does Svanetian Chickweed live?
Svanetian Chickweed occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Svanetian Chickweed?
The main threats to Svanetian Chickweed 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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