Tillandsia cardenasii

This region is heavily impacted by urban sprawl and the ramifications of an increasing human population; overhunting, conversion to agriculture and collection of fuelwood threaten the remaining natural habitats. Increased mining activities and contamination of soils and water may directly threaten this species (Brooks 2001). It may also be threatened by over collection for the horticultural trade. This attractive grey leaved air plant is easily available for sale internationally. The taxon may also be of ornamental or ceremonial value to indigenous people. 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). Tillandsia species are relatively difficult to propagate and take several years to flower from seeds. Propagation by offsets, which form after flowering, is only in a limited number. These increase the incentive to collect wild specimens for direct sale. Grey-leaved Tillandsia are the most at risk from the horticultural trade. There is considerable evidence that many plants for sale are collected from the wild in Central and South America (Read 1989).

The taxon is known to occur within one protected area, however much of the species' native range falls outside of the protected areas network. It is a popular ornamental and is cultivated in various botanical institutions. The taxon does not benefit from any legal protection. Surveys and censuses should be conducted in the type locality and potentially suitable sites of occurrence to determine the current size and range of the population and whether local extinction has occurred. Harvesting levels and their impact on the population are needed. More protected areas are needed in the region which is threatened by urban sprawl and mining.