West Indian Treefern
VU

West Indian Treefern

Cyathea arborea

Unknown

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

Overview

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

The West Indian Treefern faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat conversion throughout its Caribbean range, with montane forests being cleared for agriculture and development. Hurricane damage poses an additional significant threat, as these slow-growing ferns require decades to recover from storm destruction. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for this species' survival in mountain forests.

Threat summary

Habitat

This large tree fern inhabits humid montane forests and cloud forests at elevations between 300-1,200 meters across the Caribbean islands. It thrives in the cool, moist conditions of mountain slopes and ravines where it can reach heights of 6-8 meters.

Other threatened species in Cyatheaceae

VU

Cyathea acutidens

Unknown
EN

Cyathea gracilis

Unknown
CR

Cyathea boconensis

Unknown
CR

Alsophila major

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is West Indian Treefern classified as Vulnerable?
West Indian Treefern is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The West Indian Treefern faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat conversion throughout its Caribbean range, with montane forests being cleared for agriculture and development. Hurricane damage poses an additional significant threat, as these slow-growing ferns require decades to recover from storm destruction. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for this species' survival in mountain forests.
Where does West Indian Treefern live?
West Indian Treefern 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 West Indian Treefern?
The main threats to West Indian Treefern 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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