Are listed threatened plant species actually at risk?

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Burgman
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Feedback Loop ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
The State ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
Legal Mandates ◽  
State Of The Environment

Despite the fact that the most changes in lists of threatened species reflect changes in knowledge rather than changes in conservation status, the lists continue to provide social and legal mandates for conservation; they are used to report on the state of the environment and to guide the allocation of scarce resources. There is a substantial under-representation of non-vascular species in threatened plant lists, reflected in an absence of documented extinctions among fungi and algae. Turnover in the composition of extinct flora lists in Australia suggests that the lists of threatened species may not be sufficiently reliable to form the basis for reporting on the state of the environment. They are of limited use in distinguishing between levels of threat and may not be a reliable guide for the allocation of scarce conservation resources among plant species. Systems for listing threatened species create a feedback loop, responsive to the subjective preferences of scientists, largely unresponsive to underlying true threats, self-perpetuating and accentuating bias with each iteration. Other tools, including formal decision approaches and the acquisition of new kinds of data, are needed to fill the roles.

Corrigendum to: TURNER REVIEW No. 5: Are listed threatened plant species actually at risk?

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 275
Author(s):  
Mark A. Burgman
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Feedback Loop ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
The State ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
Legal Mandates ◽  
State Of The Environment

Despite the fact that the most changes in lists of threatened species reflect changes in knowledge rather than changes in conservation status, the lists continue to provide social and legal mandates for conservation; they are used to report on the state of the environment and to guide the allocation of scarce resources. There is a substantial under-representation of non-vascular species in threatened plant lists, reflected in an absence of documented extinctions among fungi and algae. Turnover in the composition of extinct flora lists in Australia suggests that the lists of threatened species may not be sufficiently reliable to form the basis for reporting on the state of the environment. They are of limited use in distinguishing between levels of threat and may not be a reliable guide for the allocation of scarce conservation resources among plant species. Systems for listing threatened species create a feedback loop, responsive to the subjective preferences of scientists, largely unresponsive to underlying true threats, self-perpetuating and accentuating bias with each iteration. Other tools, including formal decision approaches and the acquisition of new kinds of data, are needed to fill the roles.

scholarly journals Threatened Flora of Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Hoehnea ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo D. M. Vianna Filho ◽  
Carla Y G. Manão ◽  
Marcos Bastos ◽  
Catia H. Callado
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
The State ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Iucn Red List Categories ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
Ombrophilous Forest ◽  
Janeiro State

ABSTRACT This study documents the occurrence of threatened plant species on Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. This survey acquired data from herbaria, living collections and field sampling. A total of 49 threatened species distributed among 27 families and 38 genera were recorded in the scientific collections, of which 43 are cited on official lists of threatened plant species for the State of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. Twelve species recorded on the island are on an international list of endangered species, 30 on the national list for Brazil, and 11 on the State List of Rio de Janeiro. The IUCN Red List categories of Vulnerable and Endangered were the predominant categories for the plant species of Ilha Grande, with the main historical threat factors being deforestation and logging. Most of the threatened species of the island are arboreous. The families with the greatest number of threatened species are also among the richest in Dense Ombrophilous Forest: Melastomataceae, Myrtaceae, Meliaceae, Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae. Four species registered on the island also appear on the list of endemic species in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Rediscovery of Ophiorrhiza incarnata C.E.C. Fisch. (Rubiaceae) from the Western Ghats of India after a lapse of 83 years

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 18953-18955
Author(s):  
Perumal Murugan ◽  
Vellingiri Ravichandran ◽  
Chidambaram Murugan
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
Adjacent Area ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
The Western Ghats

Ophiorrhiza incarnata C.E.C.Fisch. (Rubiaceae), a threatened plant species of southern Western Ghats is rediscovered from the adjacent area of the type locality after lapse of eight decades.  Its distribution and conservation status are discussed.

Using bioregional variation in fire history and fire response attributes as a basis for managing threatened flora in a fire-prone Mediterranean climate biodiversity hotspot

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Shedley ◽  
Neil Burrows ◽  
Colin J. Yates ◽  
David J. Coates
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Fire Response ◽  
Relative Level ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
In Fire

Inappropriate fire-regimes brought about by patterns of human settlement and land-use threaten plant diversity in Mediterranean-type climate (MTC) regions. In south-west Western Australia (SWWA), where there are many threatened plant species distributed across a range of human-modified landscapes, there is a need for approaches to identify where the threat is greatest. This requires knowledge of contemporary fire regimes, how they vary across landscapes, and the sensitivity of threatened species to these regimes. Currently, this information is lacking, and this limits strategic fire management. In this study we compiled fire response information for SWWA’s threatened plant species and undertook a bioregional assessment of variation in fire interval over the last 40 years. We determined the fire response traits of 242 (60%) of the region’s 401 extant threatened species. Over half of the 242 species were obligate seeders and will therefore have population dynamics particularly sensitive to fire interval. Our study highlights large differences in fire interval across nine bioregions in SWWA. The differences were greatest for the heavily cleared and fragmented bioregions compared with more continuously vegetated bioregions. We discuss how variations in the frequency of fire life-history traits and fire interval interact to determine the nature and relative level of threat posed by fire in these landscapes. Survival of many populations of threatened flora in this biodiversity hotspot will depend on developing appropriate fire regimes that match the regeneration requirements of each species.

scholarly journals The role of the Francisco Javier Clavijero Botanic Garden (Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico) in the conservation of the Mexican flora

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milton Díaz-Toribio ◽  
Victor Luna ◽  
Andrew Vovides
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Threatened Plant Species

Background and Aims: There are approximately 3000 botanic gardens in the world. These institutions cultivate approximately six million plant species, representing around 100,000 taxa in cultivation. Botanic gardens make an important contribution to ex situ conservation with a high number of threatened plant species represented in their collections. To show how the Francisco Javier Clavijero Botanic Garden (JBC) contributes to the conservation of Mexican flora, we asked the following questions: 1) How is vascular plant diversity currently conserved in the JBC?, 2) How well is this garden performing with respect to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) and the Mexican Strategy for Plant Conservation (MSPC)?, and 3) How has the garden’s scientific collection contributed to the creation of new knowledge (description of new plant species)?Methods: We used data from the JBC scientific living collection stored in BG-BASE. We gathered information on species names, endemism, and endangered status, according to national and international policies, and field data associated with each species. Key results: We found that 12% of the species in the JBC collection is under some risk category by international and Mexican laws. Plant families with the highest numbers of threatened species were Zamiaceae, Orchidaceae, Arecaceae, and Asparagaceae. We also found that Ostrya mexicana, Tapirira mexicana, Oreopanax capitatus, O. echinops, and O. xalapensis are highly threatened species representative of cloud forest currently in the collection. Conclusions: The conservation and scientific utility of the JBC collection is reflected in the exceptional accession data and the description of 24 new plant species. Having a significant number of threatened plant species in its ex situ collection, the JBC contributes to the implementation of the GSPC, particularly Target 8, as well as the implementation of the MSPC.

scholarly journals An analysis of Species Conservation Action Plans in Guinea

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Couch ◽  
Denise Molmou ◽  
Sékou Magassouba ◽  
Saïdou Doumbouya ◽  
Mamadou Diawara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Threatened Plant Species

AbstractTo achieve conservation success, we need to support the recovery of threatened species. Yet, <5% of plant species listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List have Species Conservation Action Plans (CAPs). If we are to move from a Red List to a Green List for threatened plant species, CAPs need to be devised and implemented. Guinea is one of the most botanically diverse countries in West Africa. Recent research found that nearly 4000 vascular plants occur in Guinea, a 30% increase from previous estimates. 273 of these plant species are now assessed as threatened with global extinction. There is increasing pressure on the environment from the extractive industry and a growing population. In parallel with implementation of an Important Plant Area programme in Guinea, CAPs were developed for 20 threatened plant species. These plans elaborate conservation efforts needed first to safeguard threatened species both in situ and ex situ and then to support their recovery. We document the approach used to assemble the Species Conservation Action Plans, and we discuss the importance of having up to date field information, IUCN Red List assessments, and use of a collaborative approach. The need for these plans is increasingly important with recent calculations suggesting a third of African plants are threatened with extinction. This paper outlines initial detailed plant conservation planning in Guinea and offers a template for conservation practitioners in other tropical African countries to follow.

scholarly journals The effectiveness of protected areas and indigenous lands in representing threatened plant species in Brazil

Rodriguésia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 1539-1546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno R. Ribeiro ◽  
Eline Martins ◽  
Gustavo Martinelli ◽  
Rafael Loyola
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Indigenous Lands ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
The Government

Abstract Brazil is signatory of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which provides guidelines and directions to existing national policies. This strategy aims to halt the continuing loss of plant diversity through the achievement of 16 outcome-based targets set for 2020. One of these targets (target 7) states that at least 75% of known threatened plant species should be preserved in situ. Here, we assessed the effectiveness of the Brazilian current network of protected areas (PAs) and indigenous lands (ILs) in representing all known threatened plant species. We found that the number of species represented inside PAs and ILs varied according to data type. When using occurrence records, we found that 699 (33%) threatened plant species lie completely outside PAs (and/or ILs) and that 1,405 species (67%) have at least one record inside at least one PA (and/or IL). The number of species unrepresented decreased when we considered polygons of distribution. In this case, only 219 (10%) are supposedly unprotected. Although Brazil is almost reaching GSPC Target 7 in terms of absolute numbers, the government still needs to allocate resources for properly managing and improving the conservation status of its imperiled flora and expand the network of PAs.

Threatened Plant Species of Mindoro, Philippines

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
ELAINE LOREEN C. VILLANUEVA ◽  
INOCENCIO E. BUOT, JR.
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
International Union ◽  
Threatened Plants ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
Plant Families

There have been some studies on the plant species found in Mindoro, Philippines, but there remains little information in their status particularly at the local level. This paper presents a list of threatened plant species of Mindoro. A list of indicators of the conservation status was formulated for this particular study and was used for categorizing the threatened plant species at the local level. The list recorded 173 threatened plant species from 70 plant families, which are composed of 25 Critically Endangered (CR), 46 Endangered (EN) and 102 Vulnerable (VU) plant species. The species were found to be threatened because of their endemicity, as well as some anthropogenic activities that could lead to the destruction of their habitats and ultimately, their extinction. There are still existing gaps in the knowledge of the flora of Mindoro, and when these gaps are addressed, it is possible that more rare and threatened plants will be added to the list. It is also recommended to utilize the data in the enactment of the laws to address the threats to plant biodiversity loss. Keywords - Botany, threatened plant species, Mindoro, conservation status, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Mindoro, Philippines

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