Navia scirpiflora

Due to the inaccessibility of both the steep slopes and high summits of the Tepui Mountains, much of the natural habitat is intact. However, there have been many anthropogenic changes and human impact has recently increased in the region. Human-induced fires at the base of the mountains have destroyed vegetation in extensive areas. Fires can reach the forest and rock outcrops on the slopes or even the summits. Huber found evidence of fires on 10 tepui summits (Huber 2000) and many Bromeliaceae appear to be sensitive to fires (Benzing 2000, Versieux and Wanderley 2007). Some mountains show the impacts of uncontrolled visitation (e.g., accumulation of litter, trampling, destruction of vegetation for campsites, exploitation of crystals for souvenirs). The recovery of Tepui vegetation after disturbance is very slow, probably because of the poor soils. The international trade of Bromeliads has rapidly expanded and has promoted increasing collection pressures on natural populations of several species (Read 1989, Benzing 2000). Navia is an attractive genus yet relatively unknown amongst most bromeliad collectors of the world (Oliva-Esteve and Steyermark 1987, Holst et al. 1997).

There are no known conservation measures specifically for this species, but the species was collected on Cerro Sarisarinama, which is in the Jaua – Sarisarinama National Park. All Tepuis above 800 m are now designated protected conservation areas as natural monuments. Botanical surveys should be carried out to determine the current species range, the size and trends of the populations. Samples of seed should be collected and stored as an ex situ conservation measure.