Conservation assessment of the endemic plants from Kosovo

Abstract

Sixteen endemic plant taxa were selected from Kosovo, according to the IUCN standards and for each taxon the risk assessment and threat category has been assigned. The taxa were compared with their previous status from fifteen years ago. From sixteen plant taxa, which were included in this work, four are Balkan endemics, whereas, eight of them are local endemics and four of the taxa are stenoendemics. Six of the taxa are grown exclusively on serpentine soils, five of them on limestone substrate, four of them in carbonate substrate, yet only one in silicate substrate. The work has been done based on the standard working methodologies of the IUCN (Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria -Version 8.1). The most threatened plant taxa is Solenanthus krasniqii -which after its observance has only 20 mature individuals. As a result of the wild collection of the medicinal and aromatic plants, from the local population, Sideritis scardica is about to be completely go extinct. The aim of this study was to assess the state of endemics in the threats possessed to them during the previous times, present and predicting the trends for the upcoming years. IzvlečekNa podlagi IUCN standardov smo na Kosovu izbrali šestnajst endemičnih taksonov (vrst in podvrst) in za vsakega naredili oceno tveganja in mu opredelili kategorije ogrožanja. Za posamezno vrsto smo naredili primerjavo s stanjem pred petnajstimi leti. Med izbranimi vrstami so štiri balkanski endemiti, osem je lokalnih endemitov in štirje so endemiti. Šest vrst uspeva izključno na tleh na serpentinu, pet na apnencu, štiri na karbonatni in samo ena na silikatni podlagi. Oceno smo naredili v skladu s standardno metodologijo IUCN (Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria -Version 8.1). Najbolj ogrožena vrsta je Solenanthus krasniqii, kjer smo opazili samo še 20 odraslih osebkov. Vrsta Sideritis scardica pa je pred popolnim izumrtjem zaradi nekontroliranega nabiranja zdravilnih in aromatičnih rastlin. Namen raziskave je bil oceniti stanje endemičnih vrst, grožnje v preteklem in sedanjem času in napoved trendov ogroženosti v prihodnosti.

Endemic plants in the flora of Shutman (Sharri Mountain), Kosovo – an analysis of phytogeographical elements and life forms

“…geodiversity (geomorphological, hydrological, pedological and climatic conditions), Kosovo is unique and also very rich in terms of biodiversity (Mustafa et al, 2016). It is estimated that there are in all between 2800 and 3000 vascular plants (Millaku et al, 2017(Millaku et al, , 2018, comprising diverse floristic elements, but in particular Balkan endemics and paleo-endemics (Millaku et al, 2018). The endemic taxa are the most attractive components in each flora.…”

“…Endemism is a function of the spatial scale used to describe the restriction of certain taxa to an area of defined size (laffan & CRisp, 2003). The term has quite different definitions according to different writers (Millaku et al, 2017). Endemic species are plants that exist only in one geographical region or a particular area.…”

“…Species can be endemic to large or small areas: some are endemic to a part of a continent, and others within the borders of a given country or to a single mountain. Balkan endemic plants are those species whose distribution is restricted to the territory of the Balkan Peninsula (Tomović et al, 2014;AnAčkov et al, 2016;Millaku et al, 2017). Species are termed sub-endemic if they are restricted to a narrow area that is marginally shared with only one or two neighbouring countries, e.g.…”

Contribution to the knowledge on the flora of Mt. Luboten, Sharri Mts., Kosovo

“…Conservation strategies rely heavily on significant information provided by floristic studies, particularly concerning endemic plants, their threats and distribution patterns as well, upon which priorities and action measures are set (Orsenigo et al 2018;Martin 2009). Studies with wild vascular plants especially during the last two decades in Kosovo were intensified and they were used to evaluate the long-term changes in floristic composition (Millaku et al 2008;Millaku et al 2017;Prodanović et al 2018;Rexhepi et al 2005;Rexhepi et al 2009;Veselaj et al 2006;etc. ), in vegetation studies on mountain ecosystems (Amiđžić et al 2012;Berisha et al 2019;Millaku et al 2011;Millaku et al 2012;Rexhepi 1994, etc.…”

“…Luboten and lab research are presented. According to Millaku et al (2017) and Anonymous (2014b), the area of this mountain massif was among those in Kosovo for which the available floristic and vegetation data were particularly scarce.…”