Quinine, Red cinchona
VU

Quinine, Red cinchona

Cinchona pubescens

Unknown

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

Overview

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

Red cinchona faces severe pressure from overexploitation for its medicinal bark, which contains quinine used to treat malaria. Habitat destruction through deforestation and agricultural expansion in Andean cloud forests has fragmented remaining populations. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and humidity conditions required by this montane species.

Threat summary

Habitat

Red cinchona inhabits Andean cloud forests and montane rainforests at elevations between 1,500-3,000 meters. It requires the cool, humid conditions typical of these high-altitude ecosystems, thriving in areas with consistent cloud cover and well-drained soils.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Quinine, Red cinchona classified as Vulnerable?
Quinine, Red cinchona 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. Red cinchona faces severe pressure from overexploitation for its medicinal bark, which contains quinine used to treat malaria. Habitat destruction through deforestation and agricultural expansion in Andean cloud forests has fragmented remaining populations. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and humidity conditions required by this montane species.
Where does Quinine, Red cinchona live?
Quinine, Red cinchona 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 Quinine, Red cinchona?
The main threats to Quinine, Red cinchona 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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