Aeranthes tropophila

This species habitat of dry deciduous forests has decreased in area since the 1970s by 39% (Moat and Smith 2007). The main threats to western dry forests are charcoal production, firewood collection, agricultural clearing and encroachment (Moat and Smith 2007). Cattle grazing within forests and burning to produce fresh pasture can also cause forest degradation (Waeber et al. 2015). Montagne des Français, the site where this species is suspected to be no longer found, only became a formal new protected area in 2015 (J. Andriantiana pers. comm. 2016) and only a few areas of primary forest remain (Sabel et al. 2009). The remaining areas of forest are disturbed by agriculture, zebu grazing and collection of wood for charcoal production (Sabel et al. 2009). Tsingy de Bemaraha reserve is fairly inaccessible in the centre with a low level of threat to the forest from human activities, however the edge of the reserve is encroached by subsistence agriculture, logging and livestock grazing (UNESCO 2017). Commercial collecting of Madagascar's orchids for the horticulture trade poses a substantial threat, with Aeranthes species being of particular interest to the trade (D. Roberts pers. comm. 2008).

This species is found in two protected areas, Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve and Montagne des Français National Park. Further surveys at both sites are recommended to find more information on the species population size and trends. This species is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES 2016). It was rated as Endangered B2 in the Madagascar Red List (GSPM 2011).