Aiphanes argos

Human activity is increasing along the less steep slopes of the Samaná Norte River canyon as the war recedes in Colombia, and recent deforestation were seen in July and December 2016. Although the river margins where Aiphanes argos usually grows are not directly affected, human activities associated with colonization, such as artisanal mining along the river margins, are likely to degrade the habitat. However, the greatest risk for the species is, by far, the hydroelectric power plant planned to be built on the Samaná Norte River. With the dam wall proposed to be 140 m high, virtually all of the individuals of A. argos would be drowned under at least 120 m of water (Bernal et al. 2017).

Local and national conservation groups are lobbying to prevent the construction of the dam and hydroelectric plant which is planned to be built across the Samaná Norte River, and which will extirpate this unique, restricted range endemic palm species within a very short space of time unless it is blocked. Protection of this species, and ideally of the habitat and canyon in which it grows is urgently needed to save it from extinction.