Chlorophytum serpens

This species is threatened by habitat loss and degradation throughout its small range. The areas near Asosa and east of Guba have been increasingly settled over the past two decades. This has been driven by migration from northern Ethiopia associated with a resettlement program to move people away from areas severely impacted by droughts (Sebsebe Demissaw pers. obs.). Sudanese refugees have also migrated into the local communities. The settlers are converting the natural woodlands and grasslands to farmland, particularly for maize and sorghum cultivation. Even along streams, there is cultivation of potatoes and other crops. There is also an ongoing threat from severe fires set amongst the bushland and bamboo thickets; these fires are set deliberately by the surrounding communities to encourage growth of a fresh grass sward. A recent bamboo mass-flowering event in this region was associated with widespread fires after the resultant die-back (Sebsebe Demissaw pers. obs., Sileshi Nemomissa pers. obs.).