Arrhenatherum pallens

The major threat to this species may be competition with other species (shrub encroachment). Other reported threats include cleaning of road edges and expansion of existing communication networks and establishment of new antennas in Serra da Arrábida. In the Serra de S. Luis, cleaning operations in Eucalyptus sp. plantations have been identified as the main threat affecting the species (ICN 2006).

The taxon is listed on the Annex II of the Habitats Directive and it is under a protection scheme in Portugal. The taxon is listed as Endangered B2ab(iii,iv) in the European Red List of Vascular Plants (Bilz 2013). The largest known sub population (Bucelas, in Lisbon vicinity) is outside protected areas (Flora-On 2015), at least two subpopulations occur in protected areas (Arrábida, Serra de Aire e Candeeiros).

The project "Conservation and Recovery of Threatened endemic Flora in Portugal", developed by a partnership comprising different Portuguese Universities and Institutes (ITQB 2015), aims at improving the conservation status of 14 species of the flora of Portugal, including this species, and its main work lines include ex situ conservation through long term seed conservation and live plants collection, in vitro vegetative propagation, in situ conservation and chemical and biological characterisation.

Proposed needed conservation actions include further research to clarify the existence of unrecorded populations, population monitoring, further study of reproduction patterns and population biology at the three identified sites, implementation of reintroduction programmes, implementation of site management actions (including maintenance of clearings to reduce competition with other species), increase selectivity in the clearing of Eucalyptus sp. plantations and road edges, prohibition of afforestation activities on the three sites where the species occurs, and further promotion of ex situ conservation programmes (ICN 2006).