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ASTRAGALUS CLARKEANUS ALI: A THREATENED AND NARROW ENDEMIC SPECIES IN GILGIT-BALTISTAN, PAKISTAN

JAN ALAM^1* AND S. I. ALI²

¹Department of Botany, Hazara University, Mansehra-21300, Pakistan

²Centre for Plant Conservation, University of Karachi, Karachi-75210

Corresponding author’s e-mail: janalamkuh@yahoo.com

Abstract: Astragalus clarkeanus Ali, a narrow endemic species, belongs to the family Fabaceae-Papilionoideae. It is exclusively endemic to two localities of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Based on ten field surveys, made from 2004 to 2007, the population size (i.e. maximum 54 individual plants) and geographic range (i.e., 10 km²) of this species should be regarded as Critically Endangered (CR) according to IUCN Red list Categories and Criteria.  The main threat factors to the taxon are extremely small population size, limited geographic range, habitat degradation due to extensive grazing and soil erosion. Remedial measures are also suggested.

Key Words: Conservation Status; Gilgit-Baltistan; Endemic; Pakistan; Critically Endangered