Beaucarnea pliabilis

(Baker) Rose

Plante

VULR Monde (IUCN)

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Filtrer le graphe par contexte spatialPays · région · aire protégée · écorégion · biome

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Calcul du tissu écologique de Beaucarnea pliabilis.

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Liste rouge IUCN

VU · Vulnérablecritères A2acd↘Décroissante

Évaluation complète

Évaluation: 2024 · v3.1
Altitude: 0 – 800 m
Profondeur: – m

État de la populationTexte officiel évaluation IUCNExpert

It could be noted that the natural distribution of Beaucarnea pliabilis is wide and its subpopulations are relatively dense. However, in the last decades the population size and the population density have been reduced due to the habitat threats. Almost a decade ago, Hernández-Sandoval and collaborators (2012) sampled several subpopulations in the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula. They found an average of 150 individuals/ha, but the natural areas are really disturbed and in only one site they observed a lot of seedlings. In most of the subpopulations only mature specimens are present. Additionally, in some areas they found individuals with branches or the main trunk damaged by the effects of hurricanes and fires. In addition, they reported that Beaucarnea subpopulations that were previously very abundant have been alarmingly reduced. It is considered a population size reduction of 30% took place in the last three generations.

Menaces identifiées(5 menaces classées CMP-IUCN)

11_4
Storms & flooding
Rapid DeclinesUnknownOngoing
1_1
Housing & urban areas
Very Rapid DeclinesUnknownOngoing
2_3_3
Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming
Very Rapid DeclinesMajority (50-90%)Ongoing
5_2_1
Intentional use (species is the target)
Very Rapid DeclinesMajority (50-90%)Ongoing
7_1_1
Increase in fire frequency/intensity
Very Rapid DeclinesUnknownOngoing

Description complète des menacesTexte détaillé évaluation IUCNExpert

For Beaucarnea pliabilis, the habitat loss has been one of the main factors that threatens its permanence. The forests it inhabits are ecosystems that have been reported among the most disturbed by human activities such as the expansion of cattle ranching and urban settlements. In addition, fires and hurricanes are frequent in the region, which cause direct mortality. In the Caribbean area, the extension of uncontrolled tourist areas has lead these subpopulations to be at serious risk (Hernández-Sandoval et al. 2012). In the Yucatan Peninsula, it is estimated that the natural vegetation prevailing as secondary forest is 5.5% for Yucatan, and for the states of Quintana Roo and Campeche, 38% and 32%, respectively. It is evident that in the state of Yucatán, the primary forests have almost disappeared, and in the states of Campeche and Quintana Roo where these types of forests are still found, no signs of recovery are observed, and in some cases a loss of these ecosystems is observed. The tropical dry forest is the ecosystem with the most historical records for B. pliabilis, but it is also the one that has suffered the most from the loss of its vegetation cover (SEMARNAT 2016, Espadas Manrique et al. 2018). Additionally, in the eighties, the ornamental value of this species increased and consequently, its demand in the market (Hernández-Sandoval et al. 2012). This resulted in the illegal extraction of seeds, seedlings, and adult individuals from the wild populations for commercial purposes, which has caused a continuing decline in the population size.

Habitats préférentiels (classification IUCN)

1_5Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry★
1_6Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland
1_8Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Swamp

Mesures de conservation recommandéesStratégies de conservation IUCNExpert

This species was assessed as Vulnerable in 1997 (Walter and Gillett 1998). Beaucarnea pliabilis is listed in the CITES Appendix II, in order to control the trade and avoid its incompatible use with species survival (CITES 2019). At the national level, B. pliabilis is included in the category of "Threatened" in the Official Mexican Standard NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 (BGCI 2019, SEMARNAT 2010). The species occurs in many protected areas: Biosphere Reserve "Calakmul" (Campeche, Mexico), National Park "Rio Lagartos" (Yucatán, Mexico), Mayan Biosphere Reserve (Guatemala), Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve (Belize), and Noj Kaax H' Men ElijioPanti Forest Reserve (Belize). Additionally, the species is known from eleven ex situ collections (BGCI 2019). There remains much work to do to preserve this species and commercialize it with minimal impact on wild populations. Therefore, it would be beneficial to recommend sustainable production activities and livelihood alternatives to the destruction of the species habitat. In addition, it is suggested to improve monitoring of the habitat, population, harvest level, and trade trends.

Actions de conservation (1)Conservation Actions Classification Scheme — IUCNExpert

6_1Linked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

Stress écologiques (14)Stresses Classification — IUCNExpert

1_1Ecosystem conversion
1_1Ecosystem conversion
1_2Ecosystem degradation
1_2Ecosystem degradation
1_2Ecosystem degradation
1_2Ecosystem degradation
1_2Ecosystem degradation
2_1Species mortality
2_1Species mortality
2_1Species mortality
2_1Species mortality
2_1Species mortality
2_2Species disturbance
2_2Species disturbance

Usage & commerce (1)Use & Trade — IUCNExpert

13Pets/display animals, horticulture
internationalnationalsubsistance

Priorités de recherche (4)Research Needed Classification — IUCNExpert

3_1Population trends
3_2Harvest level trends
3_3Trade trends
3_4Habitat trends

Niche IUCN globaleRealms · Systems · LMEs · Growth forms · FAOs — biogéographie IUCNExpert

Royaumes biogéographiques

Neotropical

Systèmes (terrestre/eau douce/marin)

Terrestrial

Formes de croissance

Succulent - tree

Références bibliographiques (9)Sources scientifiques de l'évaluation IUCNExpert

IUCN. 2024. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2024-2. Available at: <a href="www.iucnredlist.org">www.iucnredlist.org</a>. (Accessed: 28 October 2024).
IUCN. 2020. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2020-1. Available at: <a href="www.iucnredlist.org">www.iucnredlist.org</a>. (Accessed: 19 March 2020).
CITES. 2019. CITES Species Database. Available at: <a href="http://speciesplus.net/">http://speciesplus.net/</a>.
BGCI. 2019. Botanic Gardens Conservation International: Threat Search. Richmond Available at: <a href="http://www.bgci.org/threat_search.php">http://www.bgci.org/threat_search.php</a>. (Accessed: 2019).
BGCI. 2018. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) - Plant Search. Available at: <a href="https://www.bgci.org/plant_search.php">https://www.bgci.org/plant_search.php</a>.
Espadas Manrique C., Orellana R., and Reyes García, C. 2018. Beaucarnea pliabilis: y ahora ¿dónde voy a vivir? <i>Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C.-Unidad de Recursos Naturales</i> 10: 103-109.
SEMARNAT. 2016. Informe de la Situación del Medio Ambiente en México. Compendio de Estadísticas Ambientales. Indicadores Clave, de Desempeño Ambiental y de Crecimiento Verde.
Hernández-Sandoval, L., Osorio, M.L., Orellana, R., Martínez, M., Pérez, M.A., Contreras, A., Malda, G., Espadas, C., Almanza, K.E., Castillo, H.A. and Félix, A. 2012. Manejo y conservación de las especies con valor comercial de pata de elefante (Beaucarnea). Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro..
Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A. W., de Torre, J. & Scott, B. 2011. Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT: Geospatial conservation assessment tool. . <i>ZooKeys</i> 150: 117-126.

Évaluateurs & contributeurs (2)Personnes ayant contribué à l'évaluation IUCNExpert

assessor

Fuentes, A.C.D., Samain, M.-S. & Martínez Salas, E.

evaluator

Oldfield, S., Piña, V.R. & Hernández Sandoval, L.

⚠ 1 erratum publié après l'évaluation.

Fuentes, A.C.D., Samain, M.-S. & Martínez Salas, E. 2024. Beaucarnea pliabilis (amended version of 2020 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T162240408A265998354. Accessed on 05 May 2026.