Guzmania macropoda

Epiphytes have experienced dramatic population decreases mainly because of habitat loss and extraction activities, which have driven many species close to extinction (Mondragon and Calvo-Irabien 2006). Inaccessible slopes, rugged terrain and traditional indigenous uses have maintained substantial forest cover in the Cerro Azul-Cerro Jefe region relatively intact but human impacts and rates of deforestation have recently increased. Settlements have expanded and increase of tourism is impacting Panama’s protected areas and the extension of the Pan-American Highway, which runs south of the area, has led to an increase in slash-and-burn agriculture and gold mining (Olson et al. 2001, Powell et al. 2001, Carrasquilla 2004). Fragmentation of forests is a major cause of bromeliad extinction. Fragments are more prone to fire, which appears to be detrimental to many bromeliad species (Benzing 2000, Ariani et al. 2004, Filho and Leme 2006). Forest fragmentation also facilitates the extraction of ornamental species (Benzing 2000, Filho and Tabarelli 2006), including many Guzmania spp. The taxon is an attractive Bromeliad and may have the potential to be be collected by locals and or hobbyists.

There are no known conservation measures specifically for this species. Samples of seed should be collected and stored as an ex situ conservation measure. Mt Jefe is found in the Chagres National Park, which was created in 1984 to protect the watersheds of the canal and the very rich biodiversity of the region (Condit et al. 2001). The Cerro Azul-Cerro Jefe region includes some private land. Parts of the parks are preserved for scientific purposes and there is developing ecotourism. The park currently faces some threats and management instability. The other record  is from the San Lorenzo Protected Area (120 km²) within the Sherman Forest Reserve which, from satellite imagery, appears to be little disturbed. Further research and field work should be carried out to better determine the current size and range of the species.