Polylepis serrata
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Polylepis serrata faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in the high Andean regions where it occurs. The species' fragmented populations are particularly vulnerable to burning practices used to clear land for cultivation and pasture, which prevents natural regeneration. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures push suitable habitat to higher elevations, reducing the already limited area available for this high-altitude specialist.
Habitat
Polylepis serrata inhabits high-altitude Andean forests and woodlands, typically occurring between 3,500-4,200 meters elevation in montane and subalpine zones. The species grows in rocky, well-drained soils on steep slopes and ridges, often forming small, isolated forest patches in the treeline ecotone.
