Espeletia estanislana
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Espeletia estanislana faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle grazing in Colombia's páramo ecosystems, where livestock trampling destroys individual plants and prevents natural regeneration. Climate change poses an additional threat as rising temperatures force this high-altitude specialist toward increasingly restricted mountaintop refugia. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the already limited páramo habitat where this endemic frailejón survives.
Habitat
This endemic frailejón inhabits high-altitude páramo ecosystems in the Colombian Andes, typically occurring between 3,000-4,200 meters elevation. It grows in the characteristic wet, cold grasslands and shrublands of these tropical alpine environments, often forming part of distinctive Espeletia-dominated plant communities.
Other threatened species in ASTERACEAE
Threatened in Colombia
Frequently asked questions
Why is Espeletia estanislana classified as Endangered?
Where does Espeletia estanislana live?
What are the main threats to Espeletia estanislana?
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