CR

Puya boyacana

Unknown

Overview

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

Puya boyacana faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and cattle ranching in Colombia's Eastern Cordillera, where its páramo habitat is being converted for potato cultivation and livestock grazing. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment its already restricted range. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for this high-altitude bromeliad's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

Puya boyacana is endemic to the páramo ecosystems of Colombia's Eastern Cordillera, specifically in Boyacá department, where it grows in high-altitude grasslands and shrublands between 3,000-4,000 meters elevation. This terrestrial bromeliad thrives in the cool, humid conditions of these Andean moorlands, often growing among cushion plants and other specialized páramo vegetation.

Grassland· major

Frequently asked questions

Why is Puya boyacana classified as Critically Endangered?
Puya boyacana 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. Puya boyacana faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and cattle ranching in Colombia's Eastern Cordillera, where its páramo habitat is being converted for potato cultivation and livestock grazing. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment its already restricted range. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for this high-altitude bromeliad's survival.
Where does Puya boyacana live?
Puya boyacana occurs in Colombia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Puya boyacana?
The main threats to Puya boyacana are 1.1, 2.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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