Aulne d'Orient

The most serious threats are droughts and decreased precipitation as a result of climate change, and modifications to inland water courses and other changes in hydrological conditions. Dam construction and water abstraction decrease water flows and reduce soil moisture (MOA 2005). Agricultural and urban development within floodplains also impacts this species. Forest degradation caused by overgrazing and logging (Georghiou et al. 2008) are minor threats locally, and whilst fire is a potential threat, the tree can regenerate post-fire.

Alnus orientalis riparian woodland has been identified as a priority habitat type for conservation on Cyprus (EU 2017), and the habitat type was the focus of conservation actions through the EU LIFE Comanacy - Conservation management in Natura 2000 sites of Cyprus (LIFE04 NAT/CY/000013) project (2004-2008). The natural regeneration of the riparian forest was encouraged by protecting the area with fencing from grazing and trampling in the Diarizos valley. The area was monitored and signposted to prevent human intervention including burning, and water released from upstream Arminou Dam to support the riparian ecosystem during drought periods (Georghiou et al. 2008). A significant part of the distribution of the species occurs within Natura 2000 sites (e.g., CY4000003 Koilada Diarizou, CY4000005 Episkopi Morou Nerou, CY4000007 Xeros Potamos, CY4000012 Periochi Stavros tis Psokas, CY2000012 Koilada Kargoti, CY2000005 Madari- Papoutsa, CY5000006 Koilada Limnati, CY5000001 Dasos Lemesou). Furthermore, the majority of its distribution is within State Forest land which is intensively managed and protected.

This species was assessed globally as Data Deficient (Shaw et al. 2014). Seventeen ex situ collections are reported (BGCI 2016) but the provenance of these collections are not known.