ladder spleenwort

ladder spleenwort is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The ladder spleenwort faces significant pressure from habitat degradation in its specialized rocky environments, particularly through quarrying activities and infrastructure development that destroy the serpentine and ultramafic rock formations it requires. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes and temperature conditions essential for this fern's survival in its already restricted montane habitats. The species' extremely limited distribution and small population sizes make it highly vulnerable to local extinctions from even minor disturbances.

ladder spleenwort occurs in Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, and Finland (plus 17 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.

The main threats to ladder spleenwort 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.