Parana Pine
CR

Parana Pine

Araucaria angustifolia

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria_angustifolia

Overview

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

Araucaria angustifolia has experienced catastrophic population decline, with over 97% of its original forest cover lost since European colonization. Large-scale logging operations targeting its valuable timber, combined with conversion of native forests to agriculture and pine plantations, have fragmented remaining populations into isolated patches. The species' slow growth rate and specific pollination requirements make natural regeneration extremely difficult in degraded landscapes.

Threat summary

Habitat

Araucaria angustifolia forms distinctive mixed forests in the highland regions of southern Brazil, northeastern Argentina, and eastern Paraguay, typically at elevations between 500-1,800 meters. These Araucaria forests occur in areas with cool, humid climates and well-drained soils, often forming the emergent canopy layer above diverse understory vegetation.

Forest· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Parana Pine classified as Critically Endangered?
Parana Pine 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. Araucaria angustifolia has experienced catastrophic population decline, with over 97% of its original forest cover lost since European colonization. Large-scale logging operations targeting its valuable timber, combined with conversion of native forests to agriculture and pine plantations, have fragmented remaining populations into isolated patches. The species' slow growth rate and specific pollination requirements make natural regeneration extremely difficult in degraded landscapes.
Where does Parana Pine live?
Parana Pine occurs in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Parana Pine?
The main threats to Parana Pine are 2.1, 5.3, 5.4, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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