Brachionidium capillare

Sangay National Park was inscribed on the List of the World Heritage in Danger in 1992 because of heavy poaching of wildlife, illegal livestock grazing, encroachment along the park's perimeter, and unplanned road construction. Specific threats to this particular orchid are not known.

The Lista De Especies De Orquideas Del Ecuador lists the species as "Vulnerable." The one location from which specimens have been collected by MO in 1985 is within 3 miles of the World Heritage-listed Sangay National Park. It seems probable that this particular orchid would occur within the park. The 290,707 ha Llangantes National Park is also within 7 miles of the specimen collection location.

Finding Species (2009), Rainforest Alliance (2009) and the IUCN’s Tapir Specialist Group, are currently working on a project to improve the Conservation Status of the Andean Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) on the Eastern Slopes of the Central Andes in Ecuador. The project includes habitat conservation and management, community-based conservation, and environmental education. Orchids present in this area might be afforded some protection from this type of initiative, although its effectiveness is as yet unknown. This species has also recorded as occurring in parks in Sumaco, Napo, and Galeras (Valencia et al. 2000).