During the last few decades, human-driven activities have led to indiscriminate habitat destruction and exploitation of many plant species in Kashmir Himalaya. As a result, many species have become threatened and are struggling for survival. Of particular concern are the endemic and critically endangered species which have the highest risk of the extinction, hence warranting immediate conservation actions. Therefore the current study was carried out to understand the distribution, ecology and conservation implications of the four critically endangered endemic plants of Kashmir Himalaya. Habitat distribution modelling showed that the suitable potential areas for the species occurred from subalpine to alpine meadowlands with an elevational range of 1500–4600 m asl. The output of the MaxEnt model and field surveys have revealed that their highest potential distribution is in Panchari, Khrew, Ramnagar, Pahalgam, Gurez, Sonamarg, Gulmarg and Kishtwar forest ranges. Based on the field explorations and herbarium records, Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch have 27 distribution areas, Gentiana kurroo Royle 18, Lilium polyphyllum D. Don 12 and Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf have 15. Precipitation of the driest month and annual mean temperature played an important role in the distribution of the studied species. The species started their lifecycle with the onset of the spring season, flowered in summer, fruit in autumn and senesce in the winter season. Under natural conditions, the number of days required for germination ranged from 180 to 210 where cold stratification played a pivotal role. Since last few decades, the populations of these species have been shrinking in their natural habitats due to over-exploitation for medicinal purposes and habitat destruction through amplified humanoid interferences like the expansion of agricultural land, road building, grazing and urbanization. Thus there is an urgent need to come up with positive strategies to save whatever is left and plan long term rescue measures not only to protect these species from extinction but also to reintroduce them along with framing the plans to supply sustained raw materials for medicine.

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Introduction: A strong positive 'abundance and habitat-suitability' relationship is crucial for conservation of species. Nevertheless, anthropogenic alteration of natural landscapes leading to land use and land cover change, habitat loss, and species extinctions (may) have putatively disturbed this relationship. Hence, it is important to study the nature of the relationship in such human influenced landscapes. Methods: In this study, we endeavored to understand the consistency of the relationship in the fragmented natural landscapes in the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya in northeast India, with Adinandra griffithii (an endangered endemic tree) as a model species. We reconstructed the distribution of its suitable habitats as a function of the remotely sensed vegetation phenology (i.e., EVI data), using point occurrence data and ecological niche modeling (ENM) tool. Estimation of the abundance and habitat characterization was done through field surveys following standard methods. Results: The study revealed that remotely sensed landscape-level vegetation phenology could effectively discriminate the suitable and unsuitable habitats of threatened species. Linear regression model showed a weak positive correlation between abundance and predicted habitat suitability for adult trees indicating (plausible) deterioration in the relationship. However, sapling and seedling populations did not show a precise trend in this respect. Field-based studies revealed that removal of the species from the suitable habitats because of anthropogenic disturbances possibly weakened the abundance-suitability relationship. Conclusions: The findings of the study enjoin the need for re-establishment of the species in the suitable areas for its conservation and perpetuation.

<p><em>Magnolia lanuginosa</em> (Wall.) Figlar &amp; Noot. [= <em>Michelia</em><strong> </strong><em>lanuginosa</em> Wall.], a rare tree species of Meghalaya, is restricted to the West Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya.  The species was considered to have become extinct from the state.  The present paper reports a recent re-collection of the species from four locations in the West Khasi Hills after a lapse of almost 100 years.  In addition, the population structure, regeneration status and the threat to the species are also discussed so as to develop effective strategies for its conservation. </p><div> </div>

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The geographical distribution of plants of Meghalaya show that a total of 548 plant taxa belonging to 302 genera and 100 families are endemic to northeastern India or Indo-Burma or the eastern Himalaya region.  Of these, 115 species are exclusively endemic to the state of Meghalaya.  The dominant life form is epiphytes (25.4%), followed by trees (25%), shrubs (21.7%), herbs (21%), climbers (6.6%) and parasites (0.4%).  In terms of species richness, Orchidaceae is the largest family with 146 species and Bulbophyllum is the dominant genera represented by 15 species.  The present investigation reveals that most species considered endemic to the state of Meghalaya has extended geographic distribution to neighbouring states and other countries.  Majority of the endemic taxa are restricted to protected areas such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves, and small forest patches preserved in the form of community forests or sacred groves.  Lesser known species with small populations outside the protected areas are on the verge of extinction due to a number of anthropogenic activities, hence warranting immediate conservation measures.