Sicilian Fir
CR

Sicilian Fir

Abies nebrodensis

IncreasingCREUCREUCREUCREU

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

Overview

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

Abies nebrodensis faces extinction primarily due to its extremely restricted population of only 30 mature trees confined to a single location in the Madonie Mountains of Sicily. The species suffers from poor natural regeneration, with seedlings failing to establish successfully in the wild. Historical overexploitation and habitat degradation have reduced the population to critically low levels, while climate change poses additional stress through altered precipitation patterns and increased temperatures in its montane Mediterranean habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

Abies nebrodensis occupies montane Mediterranean forests at elevations between 1,400-1,600 meters in the Madonie Mountains of northern Sicily. The species grows on calcareous soils in mixed coniferous forests, representing a relict population from cooler Pleistocene climates.

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionHabitat & natural process restorationEx-situ conservationLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Sicilian Fir classified as Critically Endangered?
Sicilian Fir 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. Abies nebrodensis faces extinction primarily due to its extremely restricted population of only 30 mature trees confined to a single location in the Madonie Mountains of Sicily. The species suffers from poor natural regeneration, with seedlings failing to establish successfully in the wild. Historical overexploitation and habitat degradation have reduced the population to critically low levels, while climate change poses additional stress through altered precipitation patterns and increased temperatures in its montane Mediterranean habitat.
Where does Sicilian Fir live?
Sicilian Fir occurs in Italy. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sicilian Fir?
The main threats to Sicilian Fir are 12.1, 7.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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