This species is reliant on the maintenance of undisturbed, pristine to semi-pristine high altitude wetland and grassland areas within privately-owned farmland. The key to the conservation of Wattled Cranes is to establish mechanisms to encourage private landowners to conserve these birds on their properties. Legislation protecting Wattled Crane habitat needs to be improved locally, while this species is currently included in CITES Appendix 2.