Freziera velutina
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Freziera velutina faces significant pressure from deforestation and habitat conversion throughout its Andean cloud forest range. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, continues to fragment the montane forests this species depends upon. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for cloud forest ecosystems, potentially forcing populations to migrate to higher elevations where suitable habitat becomes increasingly limited.
Habitat
Freziera velutina inhabits humid montane cloud forests of the tropical Andes, typically occurring at elevations between 1,500-3,000 meters. These specialized ecosystems are characterized by persistent cloud cover, high humidity, and epiphyte-rich vegetation that creates the specific microclimate conditions this species requires.