CR

Nymphaea thermarum

Declining

Overview

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

Nymphaea thermarum faces extinction due to the complete loss of its sole natural habitat at Mashyuza hot springs in Rwanda, where the thermal spring dried up in 2008. The species now exists only in cultivation at Kew Gardens and a few other botanical institutions. Human activities including agricultural expansion and water extraction in the surrounding area contributed to the spring's disappearance, while the species' extremely narrow habitat requirements make natural recolonization impossible.

Threat summary

Habitat

This aquatic plant was endemic to a single thermal spring at Mashyuza in Rwanda, where it grew in shallow, warm mineral-rich waters with temperatures around 25-27°C. The species required the specific geothermal conditions and water chemistry of this unique freshwater spring ecosystem.

Wetlands (inland)· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationAwareness & communicationsLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Nymphaea thermarum classified as Critically Endangered?
Nymphaea thermarum is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Nymphaea thermarum faces extinction due to the complete loss of its sole natural habitat at Mashyuza hot springs in Rwanda, where the thermal spring dried up in 2008. The species now exists only in cultivation at Kew Gardens and a few other botanical institutions. Human activities including agricultural expansion and water extraction in the surrounding area contributed to the spring's disappearance, while the species' extremely narrow habitat requirements make natural recolonization impossible.
Where does Nymphaea thermarum live?
Nymphaea thermarum occurs in Rwanda. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Nymphaea thermarum?
The main threats to Nymphaea thermarum are 3.2, 5.3, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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