CR

Dypsis laevis

Declining

Overview

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

Dypsis laevis faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and agricultural conversion of Madagascar's remaining lowland rainforests. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while collection pressure for the horticultural trade has further reduced wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns affecting the humid forest conditions this palm requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic Malagasy palm inhabits humid lowland rainforests in eastern Madagascar, typically growing in the understory of primary forest at elevations below 800 meters. The species requires consistently moist soil conditions and the filtered light environment provided by intact forest canopy.

Forest· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protection

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Dypsis laevis classified as Critically Endangered?
Dypsis laevis 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. Dypsis laevis faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and agricultural conversion of Madagascar's remaining lowland rainforests. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while collection pressure for the horticultural trade has further reduced wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns affecting the humid forest conditions this palm requires.
Where does Dypsis laevis live?
Dypsis laevis occurs in Madagascar. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Dypsis laevis?
The main threats to Dypsis laevis are 2.1, 5.3, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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