Tulipa altaica

There is limited information regarding threats in the Russian and Chinese regions of this species' distribution. However, across Kazakhstan livestock overgrazing is known to be the primary threat to the habitat of this species. The extent and impact of this threat is still poorly understood, but it is likely not affecting most subpopulations. Where it does occur habitat degradation is observable driven by limited pasture rotation and increasing livestock populations. This species is also impacted by development of infrastructure for tourists, recreational activities, as well as mining, however these don't affect large areas of the range as subpopulations are often in remote mountain areas. Climate change is predicted to impact tulip species across their entire range with declines in suitable habitat predicted as well as forced movement of subpopulations to higher altitudes (Wilson et al. 2021), but it is uncertain how this will impact this species. Finally, this species is likely occasional collected by local people due to its pretty flower with the species recognised as of horticultural significance and has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit in the U.K.. Nonetheless extraction of wild specimens does not seem to be driven by horticultural demand and collection of wild plants represents a minor threat to subpopulations as they are difficult to access.

Currently this species is formally recognised as Least Concern in China (BGCI 2022b), whilst it is not assessed in Kazakhstan and Russia because it is common and assumed to be Least Concern (Baitulin 2014). This species occurs in at least one protected area, Tarbagatai National Park in Kazakhstan (GBIF 2022). This species also occurs in over 20 ex situ collections (BGCI 2022a). More information is needed regarding the threat from livestock overgrazing known to be affecting this species.