Ail à Tige Triquètre

Population and habitats are locally declining due to numerous anthropogenic threats, especially overgrazing, trampling, habitat fragmentation and deterioration of the surrounding environments due to demographic pressures, random harvesting, irregular fires and deforestation of the neighboring mountains which increases the soil erosion and the disappearance of the species as the disturbances are highly frequent and strong. More generally, threats include direct and indirect impacts of human activities such as leisure activities, tourism (an increasing number of visiting tourists, facilitated by easier access to sites), infrastructure development (building of paths, tracks, and new roads), urbanization, agricultural intensification, water pollution and the decline of wetlands due to long periods of drought and climate change (RBOSM 2008).

The species is present in the UNESCO-MAB Réserve de Biosphère de l'Arganeraie (IUCN and UNEP-WCMC 2017), however, no conservation measures are in place. The following conservation actions are recommended:

• Site protection from habitat loss and fragmentation, deforestation, random cutting and overgrazing, including protected areas designation to ensure the complete regeneration of the species, its ecosystems, and to restore the quality of wild environments.
• Site management through fencing vulnerable sites to protect the species from collection and trampling, and limiting the extension of agriculture development closer to the species´ known range.
• Species management through initiatives such as sympathetic management of isolated populations and ex-situ conservation initiatives (artificial propagation, re-introduction and seed collections).
• Legal protection of the species and enforcement through collection or digging up bans, its inclusion in the list of protected species of Morocco, and legislation (e.g., to protect and the enhance the environment and carry out studies of impact).
• Promotion and implementation of agro-ecological practices within communities: pastoral and silvo-pastoral improvement (e.g. development of water points for livestock), organization of pastoralists and establishment of a rotation system for pasture to reduce overgrazing, trampling and the pressure on the species and grazing time restriction by exclusions; creation of collective sites and establishment and management of natural sanctuaries though identification and censusing the number of livestock and installation of a traditional pastoral system (not a rotation) named "Agdel" with limiting the number of livestock on the basis of the previous census.
• Education measures to raise public awareness: identify priorities though the protection and improvement of local practices and knowledge of traditional practices, motivation and initiation of the production of biological quality products.
• Additional research to estimate population sizes and to study their dynamics, trends, biology and ecology, as well as the links between ecosystem function and species demography. Monitoring and surveillance of the existing populations and sites. Delimitate the forest conservation status and public spaces with a fast procedure based on negotiation between the forest administration (Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts), users and rights holders.
• Support socio-economic development and improvement of livelihoods for rural populations: establishment of an environmental educational program (including staff training, institutional strengthening and development of local human resources), promotion of participative approaches with communities and local people for the implementation of the conservation actions, and development of ecotourism with special focus to provide work opportunities for local people.