Cantharellus boyacensis is an ectomycorrhizal species occurring in neotropical Quercus forests. It was described from Colombia, but is also frequently found in Costa Rica. It is possible that the species occurs with Quercus in Panama, but there are no reports. There is no direct information on the population reduction, but a significant reduction is suspected due to extensive past and ongoing habitat loss and decline in habitat quality in Colombia resulting in a decline in obligate ectomycorrhizal hosts, species of Quercus. Pressures and population reductions are expected to continue. The Costa Rican subpopulation is probably relatively stable due to forest conservation policies in that country. As the sites in Costa Rica are relatively stable while the sites in Colombia will continue to face significant threats and continued decline, the ongoing reduction for the population of C. boyacensis is suspected to be between 20-25% over three generations. It is listed as Near Threatened A4c.

Craterellus boyacensis is an ectomycorrhizal fungus associated with Quercus species in Costa Rica and Colombia. This species was first described from Colombia in montane forests in Boyacá associated with Q. humboldtii. C. boyacensis is common in mature forests and has been collected in Antioquia, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Cauca, Huila, Tolima and Santander departments in Colombia, and San José, San Gerardo de Dota in Costa Rica. It is possible that the species occurs with Quercus in other areas of Costa Rica and in northern Panama and/or the Darien, but there are no reports.

There is no direct information indicating a population reduction, but a significant reduction is suspected due to extensive past and ongoing habitat loss and decline in habitat quality resulting in a reduction in its obligate mycorrhizal hosts, species of Quercus. Further pressure and population reductions are expected to continue. There has been a nearly 42% loss of Quercus humboldtii populations in Colombia, and the tree is nationally listed as Vulnerable in Colombia (Cardenas and Salinas 2007). Deforestation in Colombia has increased in recent years and is anticipated to continue into the future. A loss of its mycorrhizal host directly impacts Craterellus boyacensis - and it is suspected that the species has undergone a rapid population reduction in the past that will continue into the future resulting in a population reduction of between 30-50% in Colombia, the primary country that it inhabits. There are less data available to suggest a decline of the species in Costa Rica. For the mountain areas where this species occurs in Costa Rica, the total forest cover has not significantly changed in the last 20 years (MINAE et al. 2018). As the sites in Costa Rica are relatively stable while the sites in Colombia will continue to face significant threats and continued decline, the past and future decline for the population of C. boyacensis is suspected to be between 20-25% over three generations (50 years). 

Craterellus boyacensis is restricted to wet montane forests with Quercus humboldtii in Colombia (Antioquia, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Cauca, Huila, Tolima and Santander departments), and with Quercus spp. in the northern Talamanca mountains of Costa Rica. The species is obligatorily ectomycorrhizal with Quercus species. It has been commonly encountered at the sites where it has been reported.

The main known threat to Craterellus boyacensis is declining habitat and fragmentation resulting in a decrease in area and quality of Quercus dominated forests. Anthropogenic pressure on oak forests and habitat degradation is mainly due to deforestation caused by land use changes, logging, and urbanization. In addition, timber extraction carried out for the production of charcoal in the past and continued use of wood for construction of houses and furniture has significantly negatively impacted oak populations (Cárdenas and Salinas 2007, Nieto and Rodriguez 2010). There are several large mining initiatives being considered for the region in Colombia, and if they come to fruition they will have a significant negative impact. Deforestation in Colombia has increased in recent years and is anticipated to continue into the future. Due to a policy aimed at conserving remaining natural areas, there is a lower threat level for the species in Costa Rica (MINAE et al. 2018).

This species is not thought to be commonly used, though it is edible.

Habitat protection and enhanced forest management practices are needed. In Colombia, Quercus humboldtii occurs in several protected sites, including the slopes of Nevados del Puracé and Huila, Parque Nacional Darién, Los Guacharos National Park, Corredor de Conservación de Robles Guantiva – La Rusia – Iguaque, and biological reserves on private land (Cárdenas and Salinas 2007). But most of the habitat is unprotected and susceptible to further deforestation and degradation. Fungi are not included in Colombian conservation and biodiversity policy and laws. The sites where Craterellus boyacensis occurs in Costa Rica are mostly protected. Research is needed to document its distribution and evaluate population trends. DNA sequences are needed for phylogenetic inference and to provide information to enable identification of environmental samples required for molecular based ecology studies. A taxonomic review of the collections deposited in the Colombian and Costa Rican collections should be carried out, as there are many unidentified Cantharellus and Craterellus specimens.