Rokautskyia pseudoscaposa

Bahia Coastal Forest is considered as one of the most threatened habitats on earth. Only 5-12 % of the original forest remains (Da Silva 2001, Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica 2012) mostly dissected into tiny and widely separated forest fragments. The habitat loss is mainly due to conversion of the land to coffee plantations (especially in higher areas), eucalyptus plantations and cattle farming (M. d'Ávila de Moraes pers. comm. July 2013). In addition to habitat loss, other threats contributing to forest degradation include the harvesting of firewood, illegal logging, hunting, plant collecting, and invasion by alien species — all despite the legislation that exists for the forest's protection (Tabarelli et al. 2005). Additionally, forest fragmentation leads to habitat dissection and invasion of ruderal plants and makes fragments prone to forest fires; it also facilitates plant collecting by the local human populations (Filho and Tabarelli 2006).

This species is not known to occur within the protected areas network. Field surveys should be conducted in historical sites of collection and areas of potential occurrence to estimate the size of the population and determine its dynamic. Care should be taken as vegetative propagation can result in erroneous census of subpopulations. Indeed, several distant rosettes may actually represent the same genetic individual. Samples of seed should be collected and stored as an ex situ conservation measure. The species has been listed as Vulnerable by Martinelli et al. (2008). The taxon is cultivated ex situ in botanical gardens (such as the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew) and as an ornamental plant.