Bursera silviae
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Bursera silviae faces severe pressure from habitat conversion as its dry forest ecosystems are cleared for agriculture and cattle ranching throughout its limited range in western Mexico. The species' restricted distribution makes entire populations vulnerable to localized disturbances, while its slow growth rate as a tree species limits natural recovery from habitat fragmentation. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns in the already water-stressed environments where this endemic Bursera depends on specific seasonal moisture cycles.
Habitat
Bursera silviae inhabits tropical dry forests and deciduous woodlands in western Mexico, typically growing on rocky slopes and canyon walls where it can access seasonal moisture. The species thrives in well-drained soils of mountainous terrain, often associated with other drought-adapted trees and shrubs in areas receiving distinct wet and dry seasons.
