CR

Espeletia dugandii

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Espeletia dugandii faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and cattle grazing in Colombia's páramo ecosystems, which directly destroy its specialized high-altitude habitat. Climate change poses an additional critical threat, as rising temperatures force this cold-adapted species to retreat to increasingly limited mountaintop refugia. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the remaining páramo habitats where this endemic frailejón survives.

Threat summary

Habitat

Espeletia dugandii is endemic to the páramo ecosystems of Colombia's Eastern Cordillera, occurring at elevations between 3,200-4,000 meters above sea level. This specialized frailejón inhabits the cold, wet, high-altitude grasslands and shrublands characteristic of tropical alpine zones, where it grows among other endemic páramo vegetation adapted to extreme temperature fluctuations and intense UV radiation.

Grassland· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Espeletia dugandii classified as Critically Endangered?
Espeletia dugandii is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Espeletia dugandii faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and cattle grazing in Colombia's páramo ecosystems, which directly destroy its specialized high-altitude habitat. Climate change poses an additional critical threat, as rising temperatures force this cold-adapted species to retreat to increasingly limited mountaintop refugia. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the remaining páramo habitats where this endemic frailejón survives.
Where does Espeletia dugandii live?
Espeletia dugandii occurs in Colombia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Espeletia dugandii?
The main threats to Espeletia dugandii are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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