Diospyros alisu
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Diospyros alisu faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat conversion for agricultural expansion across its limited range in the Western Ghats. The species is further threatened by selective logging pressure, as ebony trees are highly valued for their dense, dark heartwood used in traditional crafts and furniture making. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns affecting the moist deciduous forests this species depends upon.
Habitat
This critically endangered ebony species is endemic to the moist deciduous forests of the Western Ghats in India, typically occurring in areas with high rainfall and well-drained soils. It grows as part of the forest canopy in elevations ranging from lowland to mid-elevation zones, requiring the specific microclimate conditions found in these biodiverse mountain forests.
