Conserving plants within and beyond protected areas – still problematic and future uncertain

Abstract

Against a background of continuing loss of biodiversity, it is argued that for the successful conservation of threatened plant species we need to ensure the more effective integration of the various conservation actions employed, clarify the wording of the CBD targets and provide clearer operational guidance as to how they are to be implemented and their implementation monitored. The role and effectiveness of protected areas in conserving biodiversity and in particular plant species in situ are discussed as are recent proposals for a massive increase of their extent. The need for much greater effort and investment in the conservation or protection of threatened species outside protected areas where most plant diversity occurs is highlighted. The difficulties involved in implementing effective in situ conservation of plant diversity both at an area- and species/population-based level are discussed. The widespread neglect of species recovery for plants is noted and the desirability of making a clearer distinction between species recovery and reintroduction is emphasized. Key messages from a global overview of species recovery are outlined and recommendations made, including the desirability of each country preparing a national species recovery strategy. The projected impacts of global change on protected areas and on species conservation and recovery, and ways of addressing them are discussed.

A Common Approach to the Conservation of Threatened Island Vascular Plants: First Results in the Mediterranean Basin

“…Optimistically, ex situ conservation could reach significant levels in forthcoming years (at least in some territories worldwide), and with accessions representative of the natural variability. Conversely, in situ conservation practices-which are commonly recognized as the main and most relevant approach to preserve biodiversity, since they are centered on populations in their natural habitats-remain far from being widely achieved, for a large number of reasons [12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Quantitative and Qualitative Genetic Studies of Some Acacia Species Grown in Egypt

“…By the end of the 21st century, the plant life in the oases of Egypt will have completely changed; about 500,000 acres are expected to be reclaimed and cultivated after redirecting the Nile water to these areas through the Toschka canal from Lake Nasser (south of Aswan on the Nile Valley) to the Kharga Oasis, and ending in the Farafra Oasis in the Western Desert. The importance of plant conservation within and beyond protected areas and the impacts of global change on protected areas and on species conservation have been shown [1]. Albrecht and Long [2] worked on the legume plants and showed the habitat suitability and herbivores determination of legume species.…”

Population modelling and genetics of a critically endangered Madagascan palm Tahina spectabilis

“…Heywood (2019) identifies the urgent need for action to prevent further plant extinctions. Conservation in the form of reintroduction and translocation carries elements of risk, and there are relatively few reported cases of successful establishment of translocation species (Godefroid et al, 2011; Silcock et al, 2019; Weeks et al, 2011).…”

“…A total of 41 species of endemic palms have been discovered since 1995 in Madagascar (Govaerts, Dransfield, Zona, Hodel, & Henderson, 2019), one of the most significant being the Critically Endangered Tahina spectabilis (tribe Chuniophoeniceae of subfamily Coryphoideae), due to its phylogenetic distinctiveness within the Madagascan palm flora (Baker et al, 2009; Dransfield & Rakotoarinivo, 2011; Dransfield, Uhl, et al, 2008; Rakotoarinivo et al, 2014). While the protected areas encompass many species, those with highly restricted distributions such as T. spectabilis are frequently missed (Heywood, 2019; Rakotoarinivo et al, 2014).…”

“…Endangered species recovery programs for plants now increasingly add translocations and reintroductions to secure species survival as well as in situ and ex situ conservation approaches, particularly where populations are critically small, restricted, and unprotected (Godefroid et al, 2011; Heywood, 2019; Silcock et al, 2019; Weeks et al, 2011). Success of translocations for reintroduction of threatened species will depend on knowledge of species' habitat distribution, biology and ecology, genetic diversity, and population dynamics (Godefroid et al, 2011; Heywood, 2019; Silcock et al, 2019; Weeks et al, 2011). Tahina spectabilis , while only recently discovered and named in 2008, was quickly secured with ex situ conservation measures which involved seed harvesting and international distribution (Dransfield, Rakotoarinivo, et al, 2008; Gardiner, Rabehevitra, Letsara, & Shapcott, 2017).…”