ENVIRONMENT

Critically Endangered Living Stone Plant Limited to Small Area in Namibia

The succulent Lithops werneri grows only in a 4 square-kilometer part of Namibia’s Erongo Mountains and has experienced a steep population decline.

3 August 2026 · 13:04 · 1 sources

Lithops werneri, a rare pebble-like succulent known as a living stone plant, is found exclusively in a 4 square-kilometer (1.5 square-mile) area within Namibia's Erongo Mountains. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this species has undergone more than an 80% population decline since 1981. Conservation concerns focus on the plant's extremely limited range and sharp decrease in numbers.

Sources

Mongabat — Rare living stone plant, found in a tiny area in Namibia, is critically endangered

THE QUESTIONS THIS EVENT LEAVES BEHIND

Critically Endangered Living Stone Plant Limited to Small Area in Namibia

Sources

What specific threats have contributed to the over 80% decline in Lithops werneri's population since 1981?

How effective are current conservation measures in protecting Lithops werneri within its restricted habitat?

What impact might the limited 4 square-kilometer range have on the plant's genetic diversity and long-term survival?

Are there any efforts to cultivate Lithops werneri outside its natural habitat to prevent extinction?

How could climate change affect the fragile gravel layer and microhabitat where Lithops werneri grows?