Conservation assessments and Red Listing of the endemic Moroccan flora (monocotyledons)

Abstract

Morocco constitutes an important centre of plant diversity and speciation in the Mediterranean Basin. However, numerous species are threatened by issues ranging from human activities to global climatic change. In this study, we present the conservation assessments and Red Listing of the endemic Moroccan monocotyledons according to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and categories. For each species, we include basic taxonomic information, local names and synonyms, uses, a distribution map, extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, population size and trend, a description of habitats and ecological requirements, and a discussion of the threats affecting the species and habitats. We assessed the threatened status of the endemic Moroccan monocotyledons at the species level (59 species) using the IUCN Red List criteria and categories (Version 3.1). This study shows the high extinction risk to the Moroccan monocotyledon flora, with 95% of threatened species (20% Critically Endangered, 50% Endangered, 25% Vulnerable) and only 5% not threatened (2% Near Threatened and 3% Least Concern). The flora is thus of conservation concern, which is poorly recognized, both nationally and internationally. The study presents the first part and so far the only national IUCN Red Data List for a large group of Moroccan plants, and thus provides an overview of the threatened Moroccan flora. This IUCN Red List is an important first step towards the recognition of the danger to Moroccan biodiversity hotspots, conservation of threatened species and the raising of public awareness at national and international levels.

Towards the conservation of crop wild relative diversity in North Africa: checklist, prioritisation and inventory

“…subsp. font-queri Maire, plus 7 (EN) and 12 (VU), flowed by Algeria with 4 (CR) Abies numidica de Lannoy ex Carrière, Epilobium numidicum Batt., Pulicaria filaginoides Pomel and Vicia fulgens Batt., and 3 (EN At the national level, a very recent conservation assessment and a Red listing of the endemic Moroccan flora (monocotyledons) was conducted (Rankou et al 2015). The assessment comprises about 60 threatened taxa of which 16 species are CWR, 12 belong to the Family Poaceae, 3 to Amaryllidaceae and one to Xanthorrhoeaceae.…”

“…The global IUCN red list (IUCN 2016) was consulted along with national Red Lists to establish CWR threat assessment. Among the 5780 CWR in the CWR checklist for North Africa, 119 native taxa had been assessed as threatened using the latest red list criteria (IUCN 2001) and national assessments (IUCN 2016;Garzuglia 2006;Rankou et al 2015), and these were prioritised. Wild relatives of crops that have North Africa as their centre of origin and/or diversity were also prioritised as they are well adapted to the region and possess desired features for crop improvement.…”

Sacred sites in north‐western Morocco – naturalness of their vegetation and conservation value for vulnerable plant species

“…A first red list according to IUCN criteria has recently been published for the endemic monocotyledons (Rankou et al. ), but is still lacking for the major part of the Moroccan flora. The main threats to the survival of endangered species in the southern Mediterranean include overgrazing, deforestation, development (tourism), agricultural intensification (Radford et al.…”

“…), among them many narrow endemics (SEEE 2014). A first red list according to IUCN criteria has recently been published for the endemic monocotyledons (Rankou et al 2015), but is still lacking for the major part of the Moroccan flora. The main threats to the survival of endangered species in the southern Mediterranean include overgrazing, deforestation, development (tourism), agricultural intensification (Radford et al 2011), urbanisation , and, although direct effects are difficult to detect, climate change, above all in mountainous regions (Thuiller et al 2005).…”

National assessment of threatened species using sparse data: IUCN Red List classification of Anatidae in Iran

“…Attempts at applying IUCN criteria at regional and national levels have mostly taken place in circumstances where the necessary data were either mostly available from ongoing comprehensive monitoring schemes, resources were available to make detailed surveys in areas where additional data was needed (Eaton et al, 2005;Keller et al, 2005;Miller et al, 2006;Milner-Gulland et al, 2006;Stojanovi c et al, 2013), or data collected by volunteers could be used (Fox et al, 2011;Maes et al, 2012). The situation in most regions of the world is less promising when it comes to threat assessment as not many countries collect structured data for a wide range of species (Nascimbene, Nimis & Ravera, 2013;Moraes et al, 2014;Maes et al, 2015;Rankou et al, 2015). Natural history studies and biodiversity monitoring programs in many countries have a relatively short history; considering that the aim of most red listing methods is to identify declines, this proves to be very challenging when it comes to quantifying extinction risk.…”