Narcisse cantabrique

The abandonment of the traditional ecosystem management practices is the main threat to this species in a short-medium term due to the positive effect of extensive practices, such as grazing, in maintaining or increasing the population size of this species (Ríos et al. 2010). Intensive land management practices (e.g. intensive grazing, the use of herbicides, forest plantations and land ploughing) also represents a negative impact for its subpopulations (Palacios et al. 2010, Casas et al. 2010).

The increasing interests on the galanthamine-related alkaloid content of the Amaryllidaceae for pharmaceutical purposes (Hanks 2002, Berkov et al. 2014) would represent a threat in the near future, since plants from natural habitats remain an important source of these bioactive substances for the pharmaceutical industry (Berkov et al. 2011).

This species is present in several protected areas, including Regional Park Curso Medio del Río Guadarrama y su entorno (Paraje Pintoresco El Pinar de Abantos y Zona de la Herrería) in Madrid, Regional Park Sierra de Gredos in Castilla-Leon and some areas included in or adjacent to the Mancha Húmeda Biosphere Reserve in Castilla-La Mancha (IUCN and UNEP-WCMC 2017). In Spain, it is categorized as Vulnerable in the Region of Madrid (BOCM 1992). Seed samples have been stored for long-term conservation at the Estación Biológica Torretes in Spain, where there is also an active living collection of this species. A stock of in vitro cultures and high rates of rooting and satisfactory acclimatization were achieved (Juan-Vicedo et al. 2015). These results may be the starting point for plant reintroduction programs. No additional conservation measures are proposed.