Prioritization of Important Plant Areas for conservation of frailejones (Espeletiinae, Asteraceae) in the Northern Andes

Abstract

The Tropical Andes region harbors highly significant and threatened biodiversity areas. However, due to its misidentification, conservation initiatives in these regions are limited and need more substantial support. Identifying Important Plant Areas (IPAs) offers a valuable methodology for establishing conservation priorities, a particularly complex task in a mega-biodiverse region such as the Andean tropics. Due to its iconic recognition and conservation value, this study focused on the Espeletiinae subtribe (Asteraceae) as a reference group, and we compiled species distribution data for 138 taxa from 5,560 georeferenced records. Using the IPA, we divided the study area into 220 Units of Analysis (UA) represented by 10 × 10 km plots. Refined distribution areas, incorporating richness, threatened species, and ecosystem-based richness distributions, were analyzed using newly generated maps. Most UAs were concentrated in Colombia's Eastern Cordillera, extending into Venezuela. Our analysis identified 176 UAs using sub-criterion cA1 (with 59 species) and 51 UAs using sub-criterion cB (with 76 species). We classified 11 UAs as high-priority, 58 as medium-priority, and 143 as low-priority, highlighting the IPAs that require focused conservation efforts. Key findings from our study include: i) the first regional-level application of IPA methodology; ii) the potential of implementing criteria A and B to support global biodiversity recovery targets; and iii) the suitability of Espeletiinae as a focal group for systematic conservation planning in the region. Accordingly, we consider that our results establish a spatial planning procedure and analytical tool for decision-makers to guide conservation management and actions across the tropical Andean region.