Nageia maxima (Parl.) de Laub.
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.
An understorey tree of peat-swamp forest.
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.
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.
Nageia maxima is recorded from Bako National Park. This park is relatively small (2727 hectares) and isolated from other areas of natural vegetation.
de Laubenfels, D. J. (1969). A revision of the Malesian and Pacific rainforest conifers. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 50: 274-369.
de Laubenfels, D.J. (1998). Completed data collection forms for selected conifer species.
P.Thomas, 2015. Nageia maxima, from the website, Threatened Conifers of The World (http://threatenedconifers.rbge.org.uk/taxa/details/871).