Cactus poaching threatens survival in the Atacama Desert

In the Atacama Desert of Chile, botanist Pablo Guerrero has spent his life observing the unique cacti that thrive in one of the driest places on Earth. Since his childhood experiences exploring the desert, Guerrero has taken on a more formal role as a researcher beginning in the early 2000s, focusing on how environmental changes, including climate change and human activities, impact these remarkable plants. Through meticulous fieldwork, Guerrero noted stark decreases in cactus populations, especially with the rise of illegal plant poaching as cacti become popular houseplants worldwide. As mining and energy sectors expanded in the region, Guerrero observed the detrimental effects of increased road construction and resource extraction, leading to habitat loss and further isolating remaining cactus populations. His studies highlighted the Copiapoa genus, which has seen a significant surge in demand and a corresponding rise in thievery, threatening many species with extinction. Recent assessments classified 28 percent of Copiapoa species and subspecies as critically endangered, with nearly half not even evaluated for conservation status. Guerrero's research has underscored the need for urgent conservation measures, as he examined critical factors affecting the extinction risk facing these cacti, including human encroachment, poaching, and climate change. Although climate change certainly contributes to the vulnerability of these plants, Guerrero found that illegal trade and poaching were primary threats, impacting nearly all critically endangered species within the Copiapoa genus. His findings were published in a recent Conservation Biology article, which calls for immediate action. To protect these unique flora, Guerrero advocates for the establishment of new conservation areas that focus on regions with the richest biodiversity. Additionally, he emphasizes the need for training park rangers to properly identify and safeguard rare cactus species from poaching. His work serves as a critical reminder of the fragility of desert ecosystems and the urgent need for sustainable practices to prevent further loss of biodiversity in the Atacama Desert.