It is classified as Least Concern because it is rare but relatively widespread in the Mediterranean. The populations are decreasing and the species habitat is affected by several threats but those are unlikely to cause a fast enough decline to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Gentiana pneumonanthe is an Eurasiatic sub-oceanic species, distributed in Europe from southern Scandinavia to northern Portugal and eastward into Russia. It is present in the northwestern Mediterranean basin, in Spain (northwestern quarter of Spain, and two small areas in the south), France (widespread, but never abundant; rare in the Mediterranean region), Italy (north), Portugal (between Minho and Estremadura), Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Albania.

Gentiana pneumonanthe is rather rare and sparsely distributed over its entire distribution area (Raijmann et al. 1985, Rameau et al. 1989-1993). It is particularly rare around the Mediterranean basin.

Gentiana pneumonanthe is a mesohygrophilous long-lived, diploid, herbaceous, perennial species that grows on wet soils presenting variations of wetness during the year. It develops in wet meadows (e.g. Molinion caerulae), in peaty marshes, in peatlands, in swamps (e.g. Alnion glutinosae) and in open wet forests (e.g. Alno-Padion). In the Mediterranean region it is restricted to mountains and cold situations.

This species is mainly threatened with local extinctions as a result of the general destruction, degradation and draining of wetlands, soil eutrophication, lowering of the groundwater level, and changes in small-scale agricultural land-use, such as sod-cutting and grazing. There is not only a decrease in the total number of populations, but the average number of individuals per population is declining as well. The decline was evaluated for the Netherlands at 40% between 1950 and 1981, and is considered to have increased since (Raijmann et al. 1985).

Gentiana pneumonanthe has been used to treat pulmonary diseases.

G. pneumonanthe is protectected in France at regional level (Alsace, Bourgogne, Centre, Franche-Comté, Limousin, Lorraine, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Rhône-Alpes) and at a departmental level (Isère, Haute-Savoie). G. pneumonanthe ssp. depressa is classed as Vulnerable in the Spanish Red List (Moreno 2008).

For its wider distribution range the following conservation measures are recommended: legal protection of the species around the Mediterranean basin, monitoring of existent populations and search of new localities, evaluation of populations size, monitoring of population dynamics, application of legal measures of conservation and information of the public.