Conservation assessment of five new records for the Orchidaceae of Colombia

Abstract

Following the IUCN criteria, we assess the risk of extinction for five orchid species recorded for the first time from Colombia: Acianthera viridis (Luer & Hirtz) Luer, Dichaea lankesteri Ames, Epidendrum lavendulum Hágsater, Masdevallia ariasii Luer, and Stenia stenioides (Garay) Dodson & R.Escobar. We propose a preliminary global Red List categories of Endangered, Least Concern, Endangered, Vulnerable, and Least Concern, respectively, for these species. The main threats of these orchids are habitat degradation, small and degraded AOO and EOO, and a small number of known populations. The Caraño river basin, where these species occur in Colombia, is an important site for orchid conservation. Consequently, strategies are needed to ensure its preservation.

Keywords

• Andes
• Caquetá
• Caraño
• cloud forest
• orchids