Cantharellus aurantioconspicuus is found subgregariously growing directly from the ground, being possibly ectomycorrhizal as it is a Cantharellus species. This species was found in Brazil, Pernambuco state, Igarassu municipality in two sites. Considering the sampling efforts during last decades in the northeast region of Brazil it is expected that the species is rare and endemic to Pernambuco State and may be restricted to small remaining fragments of dense ombrophillous forest exclusively in the costal part. The Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco is facing threats such as deforestation, strong fragmentation, and nowadays its pressures are intensified by climate change. Only 2.5% of natural Atlantic Forest coverage remains in Pernambuco, becoming an extremely patchy ecosystem and secondary forests. It is assumed that the species will suffer a habitat loss of at least 26% within the next three generations (50 years) and that this also equates to a population decline of the fungus of at least 20% or more within this timeframe. The species is expected to be found at up to 40 sites, with each site potentially hosting approx. 50 mature individuals on average, resulting in a total population size of no more than 2,000 mature individuals, all within one subpopulation. Consequently, this species is assessed as Endangered, based on the small population size and decline [C2a(ii)].

This species was found in Brazil, Pernambuco state, Igarassu municipality in two sites: Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin in July of 2008 and Usina São José, Mata da Cruzinha in May 2010. Another preserved specimen, potentially conspecific, collected also in the type locality in 1995 is kept preserved by URM - Herbário Pe. Camille Torrend. Taking into consideration the sampling efforts during the last decades in the northeast region of Brazil it is expected that the species is rare and endemic to Pernambuco and may be restricted to small remaining fragments of dense ombrophillous forest exclusively along the coast.

The species is restricted to Igarassu municipality (Pernambuco state, Brazil) in two sites: Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin, and Usina São José, Mata da Cruzinha, representing six collections in total. This species is found subgregariously growing directly on the ground, being possibly ectomycorrhizal as it is a Cantharellus species. This species is probably rare due to the scarce reports, despite its conspicuous orange basidiomata and high sampling efforts in the region during last decades. Therefore, it is expected to be endemic to Pernambuco State, being restricted to small remaining fragments of dense ombrophillous forest along the coast. The species is expected to be found at up to 40 sites, with each site potentially hosting approx. 50 mature individuals on average, resulting in a total estimated population size of no more than 2,000 mature individuals, all within one subpopulation.

The Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco is facing threats such as deforestation, strong fragmentation due to the sugar cane crops, and nowadays its pressures are intensified by climate change. Only 2.5% of natural Atlantic Forest coverage remains in Pernambuco, becoming an extremely patchy ecosystem and secondary forests, with 90% of fragments being smaller than 10 ha (Dias et al. 2023). In general, the threats involve urbanization, industrial and silvicultural centres that can cause pollution (Galindo-Leal and De Gusmao Câmara 2003). Based on this information, we precautionarily assume that the species will suffer a habitat loss of at least 26% (Rezende et al. 2018) within the future three generations (50 years) and that this also equates to a population decline of the fungus of at least 20% or more within this timeframe.

This species has been observed growing subgregariously and occurs on soil (type unknown) among litter in tropical fragmented coastal Atlantic Forest, potentially forming ectomycorrhizae with an unknown species.

The Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco State is facing threats such as deforestation, strong fragmentation due to the sugar cane crops, and nowadays its pressures are intensified by climate change. Only 2.5% of natural Atlantic Forest coverage remains in Pernambuco State, becoming an extremely patchy ecosystem of secondary forests, with 90% of fragments being smaller than 10 ha (Dias et al. 2023). In general, the threats involve urbanization, industrial and silvicultural centres that can cause pollution (Galindo-Leal and De Gusmao Câmara 2003). Based on this information, we precautionarily assume that the species will suffer a habitat loss of at least 26% (Rezende et al. 2018) within the next three generations (50 years) and that this also equates to a population decline of the fungus of at least 20% or more within this timeframe. The occurrence area of this species is located in the Pernambuco Endemism Center (hereafter PEC) which formerly comprised of a 4.4 Mha area located north of the São Francisco River, in northeastern Brazil. Today, the PEC is the most degraded of the Atlantic Forest regions, the reason why it has been considered a hotspot within Atlantic Forest hotspot (Dias et al. 2023). Remaining fragments are suffering from biomass and biodiversity erosion over decades due the edge effects and the fungal population is expected to decline in light of extensive loss of suitable and quality habitat (Rezende et al. 2018) and the putative influence that habitat degradation has on species occupation in a given environment (Berglund and Jonsson 2003, Haddad et al. 2015).

No use/trade is known, but Cantharellus species are generally edible and consumed locally.

The main action to prevent the decline of the species is the protection of its habitat by the establishment, and appropriate management, of conservation areas and the enforcement of public policies to recover and protect its habitat. This species appears to exist in a protected area, however further research into this species’ current population size, habitat preferences, and potential threats. Its endemic status to Pernambuco should be verified in order to better understand the distribution and its environmental requirements (potentially ectomycorrhizal). Although ex situ conservation of this species would be important to ensure its genetic diversity for future reintroductions and restoration work, it is very difficult to cultivate Cantharellus species, so further research in this area is required.