Elaeodendron nipense
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Elaeodendron nipense faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited Cuban range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while invasive plant species compete for resources in its native forest ecosystems. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns that could affect the specialized conditions this endemic tree requires.
Habitat
This endemic Cuban tree species inhabits tropical dry forests and semi-deciduous woodlands in the Nipe region of eastern Cuba. It typically grows in well-drained soils on limestone substrates within fragmented forest patches that have experienced significant human modification.
