Podocarpaceae

Nageia maxima (Parl.) de Laub.

Known from only two locations in Sarawak where it is primarily threatened by the conversion of rainforest to oil palm plantations

Distribution

Known from two locations in Sarawak: the Mujong River drainage and Bako National Park. It is likely that it has, or had, a wider distribution within the lowlands of Sarawak. The area of occupancy is estimated to be considerably less than 500km².

Habitat and Ecology

An understorey tree of peat-swamp forest.

Conservation Status

Global status

Endangered B2ab(ii,iii,iv,v)

Global rationale

Nageia maxima was previously assessed in 1998 as Vulnerable under the D2 criteria (restricted distribution, potential threat). Since then there has been widespread conversion of peat swamps (its main habitat) throughout most parts of its range. Consequently a decline in the area of occupancy (estimated to be less than 500km²), the quality of habitat and number of locations, subpopulations and individuals is inferred and an assessment of Endangered under the B criterion is justified.  Further expansion of palm oil plantations could lead to an upgraded assessment of Critically Endangered in the near future.

Global threats

Widespread conversion of peat swamps for palm oil plantations is the primary threat facing this species. Urban expansion and infrastructure developments are secondary theats while past logging of lowland forests will also have indirectly impacted this species.

Conservation Actions

Nageia maxima is recorded from Bako National Park. This park is relatively small (2727 hectares) and isolated from other areas of natural vegetation.

References and further reading

  1. de Laubenfels, D. J. (1969). A revision of the Malesian and Pacific rainforest conifers. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 50: 274-369.
  2. de Laubenfels, D.J. (1988). Coniferales. Flora Malesiana series I - spermatophyta, flowering plants 10(3).
  3. de Laubenfels, D.J. (1998). Completed data collection forms for selected conifer species.
  4. Farjon, A. (2010). A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden.
  5. SarVision. (2011). Impact of oil palm plantations on peatland conversion in Sarawak 2005-2010. SarVision, Wageningen, Netherlands.
  6. Thomas, P. 2013. Nageia maxima. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 September 2015