Gladiolus leonensis

Gladiolus leonensis is known from wet areas (grassland and rocky places) at high elevations within protected areas. However, it could be threatened by the modification of fire regimes, which could lead to a decline in habitat quality.

The three occurrences are located within two protected areas: Tingi Hills and Loma Mountains National Park in Sierra Leone. However, since Gladiolus leonensis could be threatened by the modification of fire regimes, various conservation measures should be considered. First, it should be sought in other places, to increase knowledge of its full distribution and specific investigations in Sierra Leone, where the species has not been recorded since 1966, should be made to confirm its presence and assess its population. Second, it should be regarded as an HCV1 species (High Conservation Value), and as a consequence should be included in the management plan of the industrial concessions within which it may occurs. Third, it should be included in the list of protected species of Sierra Leone, and the degradation or loss of its habitat must therefore be avoided. Fourth, ex situ conservation should be tested, both within Sierra Leone, and internationally. Finally, a public awareness campaign must be conducted targeting industrial companies and other private actors, NGOs, scientific institutions, and the Sierra Leone government to ensure that G. leonensis is taken into consideration when decisions are made that could impact its conservation.