Acanthochlamys bracteata

The plant may be impacted by the large herds of grazing yak, sheep, and goats that are found in these mountain areas. Animals are brought to the region by nomadic Tibetan herdsmen, who use the alpine pastures in the summer and return to the valleys in winter and overgrazing can lead to habitat degradation (CEPF 2002). Soil erosion as a result of overgrazing is a serious problem in many places throughput the area. However, the plants themselves are possibly unpalatable, as plants observed in areas where sheep and goats were grazing showed no signs of grazing (D. Boufford pers. comm. 2016). Settlements occur in valley areas and cultivated terraces encroach on to slopes in some areas but it is uncertain whether this species is much affected by such developments. The grassland ecosystem in the Langcang valley, where this species has been recorded is reported to have deteriorated due to climate change and human activity in the past few decades (Gu et al. 2013). Another known threat to populations is construction activity throughout its range, particularly of dams along river valleys. Piles of rubble have been observed within a very short distance of a population known only from a small area in the Souqu River valley in Sichuan (D. Boufford pers. comm. 2016).

This species is listed as a plant of the Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin mountains Giant Panda sanctuary in Sichuan (Fubin et al. 2003). It may also occur in other protected areas within the mountains of its range, such as the Yading Nature Reserve in Sichuan, however, most records fall outside protected areas. It is listed under class 2 state protection and is assessed as Vulnerable in the rare and threatened plants of China list (CVH 2016). This species is not known to be conserved ex situ (BGCI 2016).