Needle Grass

Needle Grass is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Stipa tenacissima faces severe pressure from overgrazing by livestock, particularly goats and sheep, which prevents natural regeneration and degrades grassland ecosystems. Large-scale harvesting for commercial fiber production has intensified in recent decades, with entire populations being cut for esparto grass used in paper manufacturing and handicrafts. Climate change exacerbates these pressures through increased drought frequency and altered precipitation patterns in its Mediterranean and North African range.

Needle Grass occurs in Algeria, Egypt, France, Israel, Libya, and Morocco (plus 3 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.

The main threats to Needle Grass are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.