Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 2685577

Sicilian Fir

Abies nebrodensis

Also known as Madonie Fir, Sicilian Silver Fir

Sicilian firs are ancient evergreen conifers restricted to a single isolated valley system in northern Sicily, where fewer than 30 mature individuals survive in the wild. Their stiff, dark green needles grow densely around stiff branches, forming a compact, rounded crown adapted to harsh wind and rocky limestone soils. Once believed extinct due to historic deforestation, intense conservation programs now cultivate seedlings to save this critically endangered tree.

EndangeredEvergreenConifer
Sicilian Fir reference1 / 2
Licensed reference(c) fmunoz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
ThreatsExtremely small population size, climate change, grazing, fire
HabitatsMontane Mediterranean forests, rocky limestone slopes
Life span300–500 years
Classification
  1. FamilyPinaceae
  2. SpeciesAbies nebrodensis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Recognizable as a compact fir with stiff needles and upright cylindrical cones on limestone cliffs.
Support conservation
Do not touch, prune, or collect seeds from wild specimens, and stay on official trails.
Responsible observation
  • Location: Look for surviving wild trees within the protected Madonie Regional Natural Park.
  • Identification: Note the short, stiff needles that spread around all sides of the shoot.
  • Conservation: Stay on marked trails to protect fragile saplings and soil conditions.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…