Challenges Towards Hypericum Sinaicum Conservation in South Sinai , Egypt

Abstract

Hypericum sinaicum is one of the near endemic plant species in Saint Katherine Protectorate. Found only in Sinai and Northwest Saudi Arabia, there are many challenges to the conservation of this species. The aim of this study is to: (1) identify and rank the different threats, and to identify their underlying root causes, as well as the barriers, affecting the conservation of the medicinal plants specially Hypericum sinaicum within the rich areas of SKP, and (2) compare and reassess documented by Assi (2007) in the same area. 237 circles with diameter 10 m were established to cover all environmental gradients with equal distance between each other. At each point we recorded all factors within the field that may be become Threat to the plant community, to medicinal plants. Results found that drought, feral donkeys and over collection are the most harmful threats for Hypericum sinaicum in Saint Katherine Protectorate, and most of root causes come from lack of awareness, weak law enforcement, lack of suitable strategies, weak financial support and lack of stakeholders' cooperation.

Re‐assessment of the endemic taxa in the Egyptian Flora

“…Also, overgrazing and fragmentation of its habitats are other factors that may cause extinction to this taxon (Omar et al, 2017). Human activities, including ‘overgrazing, overcutting, uprooting’ are the major threats to Hyoscyamus boveanus (Khafagi et al, 2012). Due to climate change, this wild population could be in extreme danger in the relatively near future (Omar, 2018).…”

“…Bufonia multiceps Decne. EN B1ab (i,iii,v)+2ab (i, iii,v) 2 (fragmented) Climatic changes especially sudden flooding, drought and grazing cause habitat destruction and decline in population size (Omar, 2017b;Khafagi et al, 2012)…”

Assess the Extinction Risk of Mountain Endemic Plants in Egypt Under the Current Climatic Condition: A Case Study of Endemic Silene Species

“…Many endemic species rely on mountain habitat for their survival [32]. Over-harvesting for fuel and medicinal plants usage and trading as well as over-grazing, urban growth and quarrying have led to poor vegetation cover, species extinction and soil fertility deterioration in dry mountain ecosystems such as Sinai in Egypt owing to uncontrolled human activities due to a lack of data [33]. As we know, the endemic species is the ecological status of species where the species is unique and exclusive to a particular geographical region.…”

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of Hypericum sinaicum L. for the development of hairy roots containing hypericin

“…This is the endemic species in Sant Katherin Protectorate South Sinai, Egypt also found in North Saudi Arabia that was included in the IUCN red list of threatened plants in 1994 (Boulos, 2002). H. sinaicum is a herbaceous perennial H. sinaicum reproduced by seeds and rootstocks and there has been a growing interest to cultivate this plant commercially (Khafagi, Hatab, Omar, 2012). However it is a small plant that grows slowly thus the herb production is low (Omar 2014).…”