Algeria has a large collection of natural resources, with 3,139 plant species,  including 70 trees, as well as several endemic species such as the Saharan cypress (Cupressus dupreziana), the Algerian fir (Abies numidica) and the European black pine (Pinus nigra).

The main threats to biodiversity in Algeria are:

-Fire is one of the main causes of forest destruction in Algeria, where losses have risen from  8000 to 25000 hectares per year. Fire has also caused problems for genetic stability in forest areas, and total losses are estimated at the equivalent of about 1,300 plant species.

Genetic erosion mainly affects taxa of cultivated species. All species have varieties that are at risk. Farmers tend to use high-yielding varieties rather than the more resilient local varieties which do not require modern growing techniques. Imported seeds (first-generation clones and terminator seed genes) which cannot be used for planting in subsequent years are negatively affecting the conservation of biodiversity.

The increased human influence on coasts, mountains, hills, the sub-Saharan steppes and the consequent alteration of natural habitats are reducing wild populations and eliminating ecotypes and taxa which are not even mentioned.

Algerias National Strategy and Plan of Action for Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity points to the lack of will and control for ex-situ conservation in Algeria, poor maintenance of ex-situ collections in botanical gardens or parks, weak structures for conservation and research, the lack of central points of reference where scientific information on inventories, collections, etc. can be systematised. All this leads to a lack of conservation of Algerian crop varieties, such as cereals, fruit trees, vines, etc.

In order to hold back this erosion of biodiversity, the National Centre for the Development of Biological Resources (CNDRB) has been created. This is a public scientific and technical entity that is responsible on a national level for the conservation and production of knowledge, supervision, representation and recovery of resources and the national biological heritage. It covers both wild and cultivated fauna and flora, and coordinates all research activities in the country.