Protium catuaba
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Protium catuaba faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. The species is particularly vulnerable due to its restricted distribution and the ongoing conversion of its forest habitat for agriculture, urban development, and logging activities. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that this endemic tree species depends upon for survival.
Habitat
Protium catuaba is endemic to the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) of Brazil, where it occurs in humid tropical forests at elevations typically between 200-800 meters. The species thrives in well-drained soils within primary and secondary forest formations, often found in association with other endemic Atlantic Forest tree species.