Sophora masafuerana
CR

Sophora masafuerana

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) — Species of legume

Overview

Sophora masafuerana is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, that is endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands of Chile. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Sophora masafuerana faces severe threats from invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation and alter soil conditions on Alejandro Selkirk Island. Introduced herbivores, particularly goats and rabbits, have caused extensive damage through browsing and trampling of seedlings and mature plants. The species' extremely restricted range on a single remote island makes it highly vulnerable to stochastic events such as volcanic activity, severe storms, or disease outbreaks that could eliminate the entire population.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic tree species inhabits the montane forests and shrublands of Alejandro Selkirk Island in the Juan Fernández archipelago, typically growing on steep volcanic slopes and ridges at elevations between 500-1,650 meters. It occurs in areas with high humidity and frequent cloud cover, often associated with other endemic plant species in the island's unique temperate rainforest ecosystem.

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionEx-situ conservation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Sophora masafuerana classified as Critically Endangered?
Sophora masafuerana 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. Sophora masafuerana faces severe threats from invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation and alter soil conditions on Alejandro Selkirk Island. Introduced herbivores, particularly goats and rabbits, have caused extensive damage through browsing and trampling of seedlings and mature plants. The species' extremely restricted range on a single remote island makes it highly vulnerable to stochastic events such as volcanic activity, severe storms, or disease outbreaks that could eliminate the entire population.
Where does Sophora masafuerana live?
Sophora masafuerana occurs in Chile. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sophora masafuerana?
The main threats to Sophora masafuerana are 2.3, 8.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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