Ecology and distribution: This species is distributed along the Caribbean coast, from southern Belize to northern Nicaragua, including the Islas de la Bahía in Honduras and Isla de Providencia (Colombia) (Fig. 2). It is reported in Cuba by a single specimen, which, however, lacks a precise locality. Most of the specimens examined are located within the Eastern Central America biogeographical province (Morrone 2001). The plants of this species are epiphytes, growing in tropical rain forests, mangroves, or tropical pine forests, at elevations between 3 and 550 m, in a tropical wet climate.
IUCN conservation assessment: Least concern (LC). The distributional area of Tillandsia izabalensis (extent of occurrence) far exceeds 20000 km2 (104000 km2) and the area of occupancy spreads through most of this area. The species occurs in a variety of ecosystems at low elevations (see above). It is fairly common in many places; there is evidence that Tillandsia izabalensis forms large populations in mangrove associations and in tropical pine stands. It is also not subject to significant collecting pressures. —SeePinzon 2012a
