Phoenix theophrasti

Since this species depends on large amounts of available freshwater for its survival, drainage activities and water pollution pose a serious threat.

Further threats include (L. Stephenson pers. comm. 2016);
1. Red Palm Weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. (Dembilio et al. 2011). This pest severely impacted Phoenix canariensis on the Canaries, and whilst the weevil has currently been eradicated from the Canaries after significant effort, the eradication of the weevil once established would be difficult. Whilst at present the Red Palm Weevil has only severely impacted non-native palms planted in Crete (EEA 2012), the Red Palm Weevil has been observed to infest young plants of P. theophrasti up to five years old in cultivation at the MAICh Botanical Garden, suggesting that there is the potential for the recruitment of P. theophrasti to be impacted in the wild.
2. Hybridisation with Phoenix canariensis which are popular garden and street trees in all tourist areas: the extent and impact of this threat requires further research.
3. Tourist development, especially in the area of the largest forest existing at Va on Crete.
4. Water extraction for agriculture (and any future tourist development) in the same area.
5. The invasive South American Palm Borer (Paysandisia archon) has been reported from Crete and is another potentially significant threat to this palm (Niamouris and Psirofonia 2012), and has been found to have infected P. canariensis palms cultivated in Spain and imported to the UK (Reid and Moran 2009).

Fires also impact the species, however the plant regenerates well post-fire.

The largest subpopulation is protected under Greek law (Presidential Decree 67/81), and it has been assessed as Vulnerable on Crete (Phitos et al. 1995, 2009).

'Palm groves of Phoenix' is an Annex I habitat type of the Habitats Directive (EUNIS 2015) and is considered as a priority for conservation. The species is protected under Annex I of the Bern Convention, and is included in the Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive. In 1973, the population at Vai was declared an 'Aesthetic Forest Preserve' (P.D. 121/73, FEK 170/A΄/73) and is now protected by national legislation. The species is recorded as occurring in ten Natura 2000 sites in Greece (EUNIS 2015). The palm is listed in 70 ex situ collections (BGCI 2016). The species was a focus of the Monitoring and evaluation of the Conservation Status of Plant Species of Annexes II and IV of the 92/43/EEC Directive in Greece project (2014-2015).