Miconia ascendens
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Miconia ascendens faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle ranching throughout its limited range in the Colombian Andes. Deforestation for coffee cultivation and pasture development has fragmented its cloud forest habitat, while climate change threatens to shift suitable temperature and moisture conditions upslope beyond the species' elevational range. The conversion of native montane forests to monoculture plantations has eliminated critical habitat corridors needed for population connectivity.
Habitat
Miconia ascendens is endemic to cloud forests and humid montane forests of the Colombian Andes, typically occurring at elevations between 1,800-2,800 meters. The species requires the consistent moisture and moderate temperatures characteristic of these high-altitude tropical ecosystems.