The palm stands of Ceroxylon quindiuense (Arecaceae) at the Cocora Valley, Quindío: perspectives of a scenic icon of Colombia

Abstract

We studied the populations of the Quindío Wax Palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense) surviving in deforested areas of the upper Cocora Valley, Quindío, Colombia, by comparing photographs taken in October 1988 and December 2012 at the same sites. The seven pairs of images cover an area of ca. 26.4 hectares, corresponding to 7.4% of the deforested area of the upper valley, where most of the population persists. During the 24 years of the study, the number of palms included in the sample units decreased from 585 to 469, a reduction of 19.8%. Most palms that died during this period were senescent plants over 40 m tall, with estimated ages of 139-169 years. Considering their growth rates, we calculate that during the next 47 years, most palms surviving today will reach heights greater than 40 m and will probably die, without leaving young palms behind to replace them. With this severe reduction in the number of palms, one of Colombia’s most emblematic Andean landscapes, as well as a top tourist destination, will disappear. We present the scenario of the palm stands during the current century, and recommend their immediate recovery, through the creation of a National Sanctuary of the Quindío Wax Palm, and by recognizing Ceroxylon quindiuense as an umbrella species. This would perpetuate the existence of Colombia’s National Tree at this site, with a great potential for the socioeconomic development of the central region of Colombia.

Keywords

• Conservación
• desarrollo socioeconómico
• especies emblemáticas
• especies paraguas
• palmas
• reemplazo poblacional
• senescencia.