A high montane species from Bolivia Eciador and Peru that has been impacted by logging and forest conversion.
Distribution
This species occurs in Bolivia (between 2,400 and 3,000 m asl in Cochabamba, Santa Cruz in Yungas forest and Bolivian - Tucuman), Ecuador(Chimborazo, Azuay, Canar and Loja) and Peru (Ruiz, Pavon, Vargas,Cusco, Apurimac, Huanico, Junun pasco).
Given the relatively few herbarium collections that are known of this species which was described in 1824, it is likely to be quite rare. Its distribution, though extending over a large length of the Andes chain, is highly fragmented, probably naturally rare. Few individuals are found in areas of potato production
Habitat and Ecology
Podocarpus glomeratus is a species of the high Andes occurring in high montane to subalpine forests and woodland or scrub, at altitudes from 1,800 m a.s.l. (but usually not below 2,500 m) to 3,600 m a.s.l. or perhaps higher. Above 3,000 m this species is dwarfed and shrubby; below this it is a constituent of cloud forest rich in epiphytes, especially mosses and lichens. The forests are highly fragmented.
Human Uses
The wood of this species is locally exploited for the making of furniture and cabinets, the smaller and more crooked trunks and branches for firewood. It is not known to be in cultivation
Conservation Status
Global Status
Near Threatened
Global Rationale
Although this species has a relatively large extent of occurrence, it is only known from a few localities and its distribution is poorly known. At higher altitudes its small habit makes it less likely to be exploited for timber. At lower altitudes larger trees are selectively felled in some parts of its range and it also occurs in areas that have been heavily impacted by conversion for agriculture. In Bolivia, this species is listed as Vulnerable due to this type of exploitation (Meneses and Beck 2005). Its area of occupancy is unknown but is likely to be close to or within the threshold for a threatened category. Until more detailed information is available, an assessment of Near Threatened (almost qualifies for listing as threatened under B2ab(iii,v)) would be precautionary.
National Status: Bolivia
It is listed as Vulnerable
Conservation Actions
This species has not been recorded from any protected areas yet. Experimental reafforestation progammes in the Pangor watershed in Ecuador and Ayopaya, Bolivia have included this species (Middendorp et al. 2016; Romay et al. 2017).
References and further reading
Ayma-Romay, A.I. and Padilla-Barroso, E. 2009. Efecto de la tala de Podocarpus glomeratus (Podocarpaceae) sobre la estructura de un bosque de neblina en los Andes (Cochabamba, Bolivia) [Effects of felling Podocarpus glomeratus (Podocarpaceae) on the structure of Andean cloud forest (Cochabamba, Bolivia)]. Revista Peruana de Biolgía 16(1): 73-79.
Meneses, R.I. and Beck, S. 2005. Especies Amenazadas de la Flora de Bolivia. Herbario Nacional de Bolivia, La Paz.
Middendorp, R.S., Pérez, A.J., Molina, A. and Lambin, E.F., 2016. The potential to restore native woody plant richness and composition in a reforesting landscape: a modeling approach in the Ecuadorian Andes. Landscape ecology, 31(7), pp.1581-1599.
Romay, A.I.A., Lovera, P. and Soto-Rojas, G., 2017. Sobrevivencia y crecimiento de plántulas reforestadas de Podocarpus glomeratus (Podocarpaceae) en diferentes altitudes y micrositios en ecosistemas de pastizales de los Andes bolivianos después de cuatro años. Ecología Austral, 27(1), pp.063-071.