Puya herrerae

This species is widely harvested by locals for fuel and cattle feed. The taxon is the main fuel of some indigenous populations of the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia and the decline in the population is a cause of concern as dung, their alternative fuel, is needed to fertilize their crops (Bolin 1998). Andean Ecosystems are very vulnerable. Over 1,000 years of heavy human impact has resulted in the alteration of hydrological processes, loss in biodiversity, and contributed to the desertification of the Andes. The degradation of these ecosystems is now accelerating (Tupayachi 2005, ECOAN 2006). Threats to plant species in the region include: clearance for cultivation, erosion, deforestation for domestic use, forest fires, over grazing, cultivation of coca, gradual urban development, introduction of exotic species and increasing mining activity which destroys the plant cover and contaminates some water and soil bodies. Climate change may cause additional stress to tropical alpine plant species. How these threats directly affect the taxon is unknown. However, the taxon has been reported to occur in degraded Puna vegetation and may therefore show some resilience to disturbance. Many species of Puya only flower every 8-10 years, at the end of their life cycle, and seed production and regeneration may be low.

The taxon does not appear to occur within any protected areas except on the Machu Picchu Site and in Ulla Ulla biosphere reserve (Bolivia). Many areas in the region are in urgent need of protection and conservation due to their numerous endemic and endangered taxa. There is also a necessity for education of the public and to raise awareness on the importance of these ecosystems. This species is listed as Vulnerable on the INRENA list of endangered plants (INRENA 2000). The population should be monitored at regular intervals. Similar habitats in the Andes should be explored for potential occurrences and precise definition of the range. Seeds should be collected for germplasm and ex situ conservation. The biology and ecology of the taxon should be studied, especially how harvesting and threats to plant species in the region affect the population and regeneration abilities of the taxon (Tupayashi 2005, ECOAN 2006).