The present study analysed the outlook for long-term conservation, within the framework of sustainable forest management, of the Belgian Gagea (Gagea spathacea), a species for which Germany has a special responsibility. We conducted autecological and population ecological experiments in different forest communities in northern Germany. Soil nitrogen supply and soil moisture positively affected leaf length and flower formation of the plants as well as their potential to form bulbils. Light availability only had a positive effect on flower formation. Population density appears to be primarily determined by the ecological continuity of a forest site. Transplant experiments showed that even in forests with optimal site conditions, the reintroduction of the species failed to a large extent. Thus, conservation measures should primarily aim at preserving
the existing populations. This holds particularly for moist forests (Alno-Ulmion), as the species grows most vigorously there and develops large
populations. Given that lowland moist forests harbour an extraordinarily high biodiversity, action taken to conserve G. spathacea may at the
same time contribute to the protection of many other habitat-specific forest species.