EN

Handroanthus spongiosus

Declining

Overview

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

Handroanthus spongiosus faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its native range in South America's Atlantic Forest and Cerrado regions. The species is particularly vulnerable to selective logging pressure as its valuable timber makes it a target for commercial exploitation. Agricultural expansion, especially cattle ranching and soybean cultivation, continues to reduce available habitat, while the species' slow growth rate and specific soil requirements limit its ability to recover in degraded areas.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits tropical dry forests, gallery forests, and woodland savannas of the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes, typically growing on well-drained soils at elevations up to 1,200 meters. It shows preference for areas with distinct wet and dry seasons, often found along forest edges and in semi-deciduous forest formations.

Other threatened species in BIGNONIACEAE

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Amphitecna fonceti

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VU

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VU

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EN

Amphitecna steyermarkii

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Handroanthus spongiosus classified as Endangered?
Handroanthus spongiosus 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. Handroanthus spongiosus faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its native range in South America's Atlantic Forest and Cerrado regions. The species is particularly vulnerable to selective logging pressure as its valuable timber makes it a target for commercial exploitation. Agricultural expansion, especially cattle ranching and soybean cultivation, continues to reduce available habitat, while the species' slow growth rate and specific soil requirements limit its ability to recover in degraded areas.
Where does Handroanthus spongiosus live?
Handroanthus spongiosus 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 Handroanthus spongiosus?
The main threats to Handroanthus spongiosus 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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