PJB-2018-905
Conservation Assessment of Endemic Plants from Chitral (Regional Biodiversity Hotspot): Pakistan
RIZWANA KHANUM
Abstract
Abstract Introduction: Chitral has diverse importance and designated as the biodiversity hotspot of the country due to the junction of Hindu Kush, Himalayan, and Karakorum ranges, thus supporting the maximum number of endemic plants. Materials and Methods: The conservation status of those endemic plants was assessed for three years, which have at least few points’ data as per IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria 2011, 2017 and relied more on B criterion using “GeoCat” for AOO and EOO assessment. Some of the taxa were also compared with their previous status assessed ten years ago. This guideline will assist in country’s policies for conservations, threat assessment, and sustainable management. Results: Assessing the total of fifteen endemic taxa (species and subspecies), most are locally endemic to Chitral except Anaphalis chitralensis and Impatiens lemannii subsp.lehmanii (country’s endemic). Twelve species fall in the criteria for Endangered (EN) whereas two species of Vulnerable (VU) and one fall in critically endangered (CE) threat category. The most CE (critically endangered) taxa is Astragalus afghanus with only 56 mature individuals while Astragalus chitralensis, Delphinium chitralensis declared as VU (Vulnerable), rest all species like Polygonum cognatum subsp chitralicum, Gaillonia chitrlensis etc are EN (Endangered). Conclusion: The species needs immediate strategies for in-situ and ex-situ conservation for sustainability.
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