Gladiolus chevalierianus

Benna Plateau (Kounounkan) and Kindia region are both part of the the Fouta-Djallon highlands. In these highlands there has been rapid urbanisation and agricultural expansion over the last 50 years. Uncontrolled bush fires are one of the main threats in the Fouta-Djallon region (CEPF 2015). Fires are often used to clear fields for agriculture and livestock farming, as well as to drive animals out of the forest for hunting and to drive wild bees out of their hives, frequently spreading through large areas, affecting natural habitat (USAID 2007). The Benna plateau area is threatened by grazing livestock and fire, although some areas are more difficult to access with steep slopes and fewer threats (M. Cheek pers comm. 2018). It is unknown how this species responds to fire and further research is recommended. If fires occur during the flowering or fruiting season this may affect the species reproduction, however some geophytes can survive fire or have flowering or seed germination stimulated by fires (Lamont and Downes 2011). The species was also collected in Kindia region at 900 m, although the exact collecting locality is unknown. There are a few areas of higher elevation grassland remaining in Kindia, for example, north of Dembata. However population density has increased in the coastal area with more than 400 inhabitants per km² living around the coastal cities of Conakry, Kamsar and Kindia compared to less than 20 inhabitants per km² in rural areas (USAID 2007). There are some important bird areas in Kindia region which are threatened by bush fires, habitat clearance for shifting agriculture and harvesting of wood for fuel and construction (Robertson 2001); 30 km west of Kindia town there is also an active bauxite mine and large areas of native vegetation have been cleared.

The species is not known to occur in any protected areas. The Benna Plateau (Kounounkan) is not currently protected but is under investigation as a potential Tropical Important Plant Area. Further research on the species response to fire is recommended.