CR

Polylepis nana

Declining

Overview

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

Polylepis nana faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in high-altitude Andean ecosystems. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the already limited patches of suitable habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat as rising temperatures force this cold-adapted species to retreat to increasingly restricted elevations with nowhere left to migrate.

Threat summary

Habitat

Polylepis nana inhabits high-altitude Andean forests and woodlands, typically occurring between 3,500-4,500 meters elevation in Peru and Bolivia. This dwarf tree species forms part of the distinctive Polylepis forest ecosystem found on steep slopes and rocky outcrops in the puna and páramo zones.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Ex-situ conservation

Other threatened species in ROSACEAE

EN

Bristol Whitebeam

Sorbus bristoliensis

Increasing
EN

Arran Whitebeam

Sorbus arranensis

Declining
EN

Prunus detrita

Declining
VU

Sorbus degenii

Unknown

Threatened in Bolivia

EN

Puya fosteriana

Unknown
VU

Acaulimalva oriastrum

Unknown
VU

Brachyotum angustifolium

Unknown
VU

Prumnopitys montana

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Polylepis nana classified as Critically Endangered?
Polylepis nana 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. Polylepis nana faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in high-altitude Andean ecosystems. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the already limited patches of suitable habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat as rising temperatures force this cold-adapted species to retreat to increasingly restricted elevations with nowhere left to migrate.
Where does Polylepis nana live?
Polylepis nana occurs in Bolivia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Polylepis nana?
The main threats to Polylepis nana are 2.3, 5.3, 5.4, and 7.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.