Vatica bantamensis
Overview
Vatica bantamensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Dipterocarpaceae. It is a tree endemic to western Java in Indonesia. It is a medium-sized tree which can grow up to 30 meters tall.
It is known from a single location in Ujung Kulon National Park, where it grows in dense lowland rain forest on ridges and slopes with acidic soil. There is a single subpopulation of 250 individuals and 58 mature individuals. The species is threatened with habitat loss from the introduced invasive Langkap palm.
The IUCN Red List assesses the species as Critically Endangered.
Vatica bantamensis faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat conversion throughout its native range in Java and Sumatra. Commercial logging operations and agricultural expansion have eliminated most of the lowland dipterocarp forests where this species naturally occurs. The remaining fragmented populations are further threatened by ongoing forest degradation and the species' limited dispersal ability, which prevents recolonization of cleared areas.
Habitat
Vatica bantamensis is endemic to lowland dipterocarp forests of Java and Sumatra, typically occurring in primary and mature secondary forests at elevations below 500 meters. The species requires well-drained soils and is associated with other dipterocarp species in these biodiverse tropical rainforest ecosystems.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in DIPTEROCARPACEAE
Frequently asked questions
Why is Vatica bantamensis classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Vatica bantamensis live?
What are the main threats to Vatica bantamensis?
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