Fosterella cotacajensis

The species is also known to occur in a number of locations affected by land conversion, overgrazing and wood extraction (Kessler et al. 1999, Google Earth 2023). In the department of Tarija, where the species occurs, the population size grew by around 25% between 2012 and 2022 (Instituto Nacional de Estadistica 2022). The species has also been collected from the area of Ayopaya, in the department of Cochabamba, which is threatened by agricultural expansion and fire, and the habitat is described as being moderately to severely degraded (Herzog and Kessler 2002, de Souza et al. 2022). Some specimens have also been collected from near to La Paz, where population growth has increased dramatically since the species was collected (Arbona and Kohl 2004). The majority of specimens within the department of La Paz have been found within the Inquisivi Province, where deforestation and soil erosion are causing declines in other endemic and restricted species (Fuentes 2014).

The regionally outstanding central Andean puna ecoregion, where this species also occurs, is classified as Vulnerable. Land has been extensively converted for agricultural purposes, as well as livestock grazing, firewood supply and by burning (Dinerstein et al. 1995). Although there is evidence of agricultural activities and road construction, the species occurs at high altitudes in a habitat with large areas of inaccessible terrain which could mitigate the risks of human impact (Google Earth 2023).

This species is not known to occur in any protected areas (WDPA 2020). The seeds of this species are not currently held by any seed bank (Genesys 2023) and there are no records of ex situ collections worldwide (BGCI 2023).