Green's Whitebeam
CR

Green's Whitebeam

Sorbus greenii

IncreasingCREUCREU

Photo: Photo: Sam Thomas via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0

Overview

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

Sorbus greenii faces severe threats from habitat degradation and extremely limited distribution, being restricted to a single location in Northern Ireland. The species is vulnerable to genetic bottlenecks due to its tiny population size and isolation. Climate change poses additional risks to this montane specialist, as warming temperatures may force the species beyond its narrow altitudinal range. Human disturbance and potential development pressures in its restricted habitat further compound conservation challenges.

Threat summary

Habitat

Sorbus greenii occupies rocky montane habitats and cliff ledges in upland areas of Northern Ireland. The species is adapted to nutrient-poor, well-drained soils on limestone substrates at moderate elevations.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in ROSACEAE

EN

Bristol Whitebeam

Sorbus bristoliensis

Increasing
EN

Arran Whitebeam

Sorbus arranensis

Declining
EN

Prunus detrita

Declining
VU

Sorbus degenii

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Green's Whitebeam classified as Critically Endangered?
Green's Whitebeam 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. Sorbus greenii faces severe threats from habitat degradation and extremely limited distribution, being restricted to a single location in Northern Ireland. The species is vulnerable to genetic bottlenecks due to its tiny population size and isolation. Climate change poses additional risks to this montane specialist, as warming temperatures may force the species beyond its narrow altitudinal range. Human disturbance and potential development pressures in its restricted habitat further compound conservation challenges.
Where does Green's Whitebeam live?
Green's Whitebeam 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 Green's Whitebeam?
The main threats to Green's Whitebeam 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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