Dyckia reitzii

Due to the difficulty of access and adverse environmental conditions, Campos de altitude have remained fairly intact from anthropogenic disturbance, however, upper montane forests are under increasing pressures. Conversion into agricultural land and pasture, as well as tourism, logging, spread of invasive exotic species, roads and dams construction further threaten these fragile habitats. This species grows on or near mountain summits and could potentially be threatened by global warming, as upward migration space would be limited (De Forest Safford 1999).

The taxon does not benefit from legal protection in Brazil and was assessed as Vulnerable in Rio Grande do Sul, in 2002 (SEMA 2002) and Rare in Santa Catarina, in 1990 (Klein 1990). This species was mostly collected within conservation units, however, protection within these units can be insufficient and illegal logging, burning and collection sometimes occur. Adequate conservation of Campos de altitude vegetation is a priority as these habitats are unique, restricted to small patches and rich in endemic species. Existing units should be accurately demarcated and protected (Caifa and da Silva 2007). Many narrowly endemic species are reported from the genus Dyckia. This genus deserves special attention because of the number of species, many of them poorly known and usually with overlapping diagnostic features and frequently represented in herbaria by only a single leaf and part of the inflorescence (Versieux and Wendt 2007). The genus Dyckia is in urgent need of revision (Martinelli et al. 2008). Field surveys and monitoring of the population should be conducted with examination of historical and potentially suitable areas to confirm local subpopulations, possibly find new ones and document if local extinction does occur. Samples of seed of the species should be collected and stored as an ex situ conservation measure.