Madhuca moonii
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Madhuca moonii faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat conversion for agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in the Western Ghats. The species is particularly vulnerable due to its restricted distribution and slow growth rate, making population recovery difficult once local populations are lost. Selective logging for timber and non-timber forest products further fragments remaining populations, while climate change threatens to alter the specific moisture and temperature conditions this endemic tree requires.
Habitat
Madhuca moonii is endemic to the tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of the Western Ghats in India, typically occurring at elevations between 200-800 meters. The species thrives in areas with high humidity and consistent rainfall, often found along stream banks and in valley bottoms where soil moisture remains relatively constant throughout the year.
