Neoregelia azevedoi

Epiphytes have experienced dramatic population decreases mainly because of habitat loss and extraction activities, which have driven many species close to extinction (Mondragon et al. 2006). In southern Bahia, less than 0.4% of the original forest remains (Da Silva 2001). Little forest remains in the municipality of Camaca, and the area has a high human footprint (Sanderson et al. 2002). Many bromeliads have become very important horticultural plants because of their unique appearance (Barfuss et al. 2005). Bromeliads may also be of ornamental or ceremonial value to the indigenous people. As a consequence, there is a local and rapidly expanding international market for bromeliads, which are collected in large numbers from natural populations without control of the extraction rate (Read 1989, Wolf and Konings 2001). The taxon is a very attractive bromeliad, however the impact of potential extraction on the population is unknown. In the south of the state of Bahia, the agrosystem practise of leaving dense shade canopy of native trees on the cocoa cultivation has represented a way to conserve native tree, associated species and connect fragments of forest. However in recent years there has been a reduction of the shade system due to the idea that it would decrease the cocoa production (Johns 1999).

This species is not known to occur within the protected areas network at present. Field surveys should be conducted in the historical site of collection and potentially suitable sites to determine the range, estimate the population size and determine if local extinction has occurred. The population should be closely monitored and its dynamics investigated. Sample of seed should be collected and stored as a ex situ conservation measure. The Atlantic Rainforest of southern Bahia is one of the last remnants of the lowland forest of eastern Brazil (Saatschi et al. 2001) and has been given high priority for biodiversity conservation because it harbours an extraordinary number of endemic plants and due to the high degree of threats to its megadiversity. Bromeliaceae are ecologically very important to the region, having manifolds relationships with the local fauna (Martinelli et al. 2008).