CR

Fitchia cordata

Declining

Overview

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

Fitchia cordata faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in French Polynesia. Invasive plant species compete directly with this endemic shrub for resources and growing space, while introduced herbivores damage remaining populations through browsing pressure. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances and climate-related impacts.

Threat summary

Habitat

Fitchia cordata inhabits lowland and montane forests of French Polynesia, typically growing in native vegetation communities on volcanic soils. The species occurs in both primary and secondary forest habitats, often in areas with moderate to high rainfall and well-drained substrates.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in ASTERACEAE

EN

Bidens cosmoides

Declining
VU

Piptolepis monticola

Unknown
Libanothamnus parvulusCR

Libanothamnus parvulus

Declining
EN

Gynoxys neovelutina

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Fitchia cordata classified as Critically Endangered?
Fitchia cordata 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. Fitchia cordata faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in French Polynesia. Invasive plant species compete directly with this endemic shrub for resources and growing space, while introduced herbivores damage remaining populations through browsing pressure. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances and climate-related impacts.
Where does Fitchia cordata live?
Fitchia cordata 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 Fitchia cordata?
The main threats to Fitchia cordata 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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