EN

Freziera rufescens

Declining

Overview

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

Freziera rufescens faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited Andean cloud forest range. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, continues to reduce and isolate remaining forest patches. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and humidity conditions required by this cloud forest specialist.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species is endemic to montane cloud forests of the tropical Andes, typically occurring at elevations between 1,500-2,800 meters. It requires the persistent fog and high humidity characteristic of these ecosystems, growing in the understory and forest edges of primary and well-developed secondary forests.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Freziera rufescens classified as Endangered?
Freziera rufescens is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Freziera rufescens faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited Andean cloud forest range. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, continues to reduce and isolate remaining forest patches. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and humidity conditions required by this cloud forest specialist.
Where does Freziera rufescens live?
Freziera rufescens occurs in Ecuador. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Freziera rufescens?
The main threats to Freziera rufescens 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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