Voanioala gerardii
CR

Voanioala gerardii

Declining

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

Overview

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

Voanioala gerardii faces severe threats from deforestation and agricultural expansion in Madagascar's remaining rainforest fragments. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction, with logging and slash-and-burn agriculture continuing to reduce its already tiny range. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could affect the humid forest conditions this palm requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered palm is endemic to the humid lowland rainforests of eastern Madagascar, occurring in primary forest understory at elevations below 800 meters. It requires the specific microclimate conditions of intact rainforest, including high humidity and filtered sunlight beneath the forest canopy.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recovery

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Voanioala gerardii classified as Critically Endangered?
Voanioala gerardii 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. Voanioala gerardii faces severe threats from deforestation and agricultural expansion in Madagascar's remaining rainforest fragments. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction, with logging and slash-and-burn agriculture continuing to reduce its already tiny range. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could affect the humid forest conditions this palm requires.
Where does Voanioala gerardii live?
Voanioala gerardii occurs in Madagascar. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Voanioala gerardii?
The main threats to Voanioala gerardii are 2.1, 2.1.1, 5.3, and 5.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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