Click here to open feedback window. Contribution to an evaluation of tree species using the new CITES Listing Criteria 148 Alnus acuminata  Betulaceae aliso, mountain alder Distribution Argentina (Catamarca, Jujuy, La Rioja, Mendoza, Salta, San Luis, Santiago del Estero), Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru Habitat A species of tropical, montane, moist forest and woodland areas between 1500 and 3800m. It occurs along small streams and at higher altitudes in small valleys where it is protected from cold, dry winds. It is common in montane humid rainforest, upper cloud forest and Tucumanian-Bolivian forest. Population Status and Trends A common streamside species, distributed in montane areas from Mexico to the Andes. Large stands remain in Bolivia, Argentina and probably other South American countries. It is also said to be common in Costa Rica (Arce Benavides, 1998). In north-west Argentina the area of forest, dominated by Alnus, appears to be increasing, possibly as a result of regular fires preventing more climax species from establishing or because of the effectiveness of Alnus’ dispersal system (Grau & Brown, 1995). Elsewhere the original habitat has disappeared over the centuries, particularly at higher altitudes in the Andes where the species is generally only found in protected valleys. Locally, populations have become extinct or are under severe threat from overcutting and habitat clearance and the species is included in lists of threatened plants in Argentina and by the FAO (Chebez, 1994; FAO, 1986), but as a whole the species has a wide ecological breadth and regenerates well (Ibisch, 1997; Killeen, 1997). Role of species in the ecosystem Threats Invasive exotic plants, extensive agriculture, local overexploitation. Utilisation The trees are cut for fuel and small construction timber. It is a potentially valuable tree for soil improvement, especially for eroded soils. It has been used in agrosilvicultural systems in pastureland in Costa Rica. The bark has medicinal value. Trade Use is only domestic. IUCN Conservation category LRlc according to WCMC Conservation Measures Forest Management and Silviculture A nitrogen fixing species. It coppices well. Managed populations show yields of 10-15m³/ha pa., with a rotation of 18 to 22 years, depending on soil type and altitude. References Arce Benavides, H. 1998. Comments on species profiles for Costa Rica. Brako, L. & J.L. Zarucchi. 1993. Catalogue of the flowering plants and gymnosperms of Peru. Mongr. Syst. Bot. (Missouri Bot. Gard.) 45: 1-1286. Chebez, J.C. 1994. Los que se van. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Albatros. 604pp. d'Arcy, W.G. 1987. Flora of Panama: checklist and index. Monographs in Systematic Botany 17: 1-1000. Estenssoro, S. 1987. Lista preliminar de plantas especiales. La Paz: Centro de Datos para la Conservación.17pp. FAO Forestry Department. 1986. Databook on endangered tree and shrub species and their provenances.Rome: FAO. 524pp. Grau, H.R. & A.D. Brown. 1995. Patterns of tree species diversity along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients in the Argentinean subtropical montane forests. In Churchill, S.P. et al. (eds.). Biodiversity and conservation of neotropical montane forests. Proceedings of the Neotropical Montane Forest Biodiversity and Conservation Symposium, The New York Botanical Garden, 21-26 June 1993. Ibisch, P.L. 1997. Comments on species summaries for Bolivia. Killeen, T. 1997. Comments on species summaries for Bolivia.