VU

Zanthoxylum harrisii

Unknown

Overview

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

Zanthoxylum harrisii faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as Jamaica's montane forests are cleared for agriculture and development. The species' restricted range in the Blue Mountains makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while its slow growth rate limits natural recovery from population declines. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures may force this cool-adapted species to higher elevations with increasingly limited suitable habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic Jamaican species inhabits montane forests and forest edges in the Blue Mountains, typically occurring at elevations between 1,200-2,000 meters. It grows in cool, moist conditions within the island's remaining primary and secondary mountain forests.

Forest· major

Other threatened species in RUTACEAE

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Melicope quadrangularis

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VU

Melicope wawraeana

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Vepris drummondii

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Zanthoxylum mildbraedii

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Zanthoxylum harrisii classified as Vulnerable?
Zanthoxylum harrisii 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. Zanthoxylum harrisii faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as Jamaica's montane forests are cleared for agriculture and development. The species' restricted range in the Blue Mountains makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while its slow growth rate limits natural recovery from population declines. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures may force this cool-adapted species to higher elevations with increasingly limited suitable habitat.
Where does Zanthoxylum harrisii live?
Zanthoxylum harrisii 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 Zanthoxylum harrisii?
The main threats to Zanthoxylum harrisii 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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