VU

Moabi

Baillonella toxisperma

Unknown

Overview

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

Baillonella toxisperma faces severe pressure from commercial logging operations targeting its valuable timber, which is highly prized for construction and furniture making. Agricultural expansion, particularly for cocoa and oil palm plantations, continues to fragment and destroy remaining forest habitat across its West and Central African range. The species' slow growth rate and limited regeneration capacity make recovery from harvesting pressure extremely difficult, while climate change threatens to alter the humid forest conditions essential for its survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

Baillonella toxisperma inhabits primary and secondary tropical rainforests across West and Central Africa, typically growing in humid lowland forests with well-drained soils. The species thrives in the dense canopy layer of evergreen forests, requiring consistent moisture and protection from direct sunlight during early growth stages.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· major

Other threatened species in SAPOTACEAE

EN

Ecclinusa parviflora

Declining
EN

Madhuca elmeri

Declining
EN

Madhuca engleri

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VU

Manilkara mabokeensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Moabi classified as Vulnerable?
Moabi 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. Baillonella toxisperma faces severe pressure from commercial logging operations targeting its valuable timber, which is highly prized for construction and furniture making. Agricultural expansion, particularly for cocoa and oil palm plantations, continues to fragment and destroy remaining forest habitat across its West and Central African range. The species' slow growth rate and limited regeneration capacity make recovery from harvesting pressure extremely difficult, while climate change threatens to alter the humid forest conditions essential for its survival.
Where does Moabi live?
Moabi 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 Moabi?
The main threats to Moabi 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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