Red List Species of the Day - 15th April

The Carossier Palm is listed as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List of Thretened Species. One of the rarest palms in the America's, this tall, attractive species is restricted to the Southwestern peninsula of Haiti on the island of Hispaniola, in the caribbean. This species owes it status to the conversion of habitat for agriculture which has had a severe impact on the poupulation and just 30 individuals were estimated to remain in the wild in 1996. Other major threats include the harvestign of seeds by people, livestock, grazing,and a reduction in the abundance of seed dispersal agents. Given the small size of its population, The Carossier Palm is also vulnerable to extreme natural events.