Two of Madagascar’s Most Threatened Palms: Voanioala gerardii and Lemurophoenix halleuxii

Madagascar has a high diversity of endemic palm species and the Masoala Peninsula is a hotspot for their diversity. Several species are critically endangered, and their populations are known to be in decline due to a combination of land clearance, destructive harvesting for heart of palm and potentially unsustainable commercial seed collection. The critically endangered Voanioala gerardii and the endangered Lemurophoenix halleuxii are two palm species from monospecific genera endemic to Madagascar that overlap in their distribution within this region.; ;