Some of these species grow extremely slowly, recovering from damage over years or decades rather than weeks.

A path created by thousands of footsteps can remain visible as a vegetation-stripped track long after the traffic has been redirected.

Soil compaction is another significant concern.

The thin soils of the tepui summit are composed of organic matter accumulated over long periods; once compressed and disrupted, they may take very long periods to recover their original structure and the soil communities that support the specialized summit flora.

The impact of human visitation on water quality in the summit pools — which are habitat for endemic aquatic organisms — is a concern.