Assessing conservation priorities of endemic seed plants in the central Himalaya (Nepal): A complementarity and phylogenetic diversity approach. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shrestha, Nawal; Tiwari, Achyut; Paudel, Prakash Kumar
• Is Part Of: Biological conservation. Volume 261(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Biodiversity hotspots -- Conservation gaps -- Phylogenetic endemism -- Protected areas -- Systematic conservation planning -- Weighted endemism; Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals; Nature conservation -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.9516
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109274
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3207

Abstract

Abstract: The rate of species extinction has accelerated in the past few decades due to human-induced global changes. Establishing protected areas (PA) is one of the most viable solutions to averting this crisis. Although PA establishment in the past followed an ad-hoc approach without considering the conservation value of the prioritized areas, the development of systematic conservation planning approaches has largely maximized the conservation output by offering low-cost and high-efficiency spatial solutions. However, the conservation initiatives are still biased towards mammals and birds and despite the essential ecological role of plants, they are hardly taken as a proxy for conservation decision-making. Furthermore, although phylogenetic diversity captures areas that offer greater ecosystem functions, it remains largely neglected in conservation practice. In this study, using a comprehensive distribution dataset of 316 endemic seed plants in the central Himalaya and the time-calibrated phylogeny, we identified key areas for the systematic protection of species and evolutionary diversity of endemic seed plants. We found a large gap in protecting endemic seed plants in the central Himalaya likely due to disproportionate location of PAs. We recommend expanding protected areas to the mid-hills and lowlands to ensure better representation of biodiversity in the central Himalayan PA network. While flagship species undeniably require high conservation focus, our findings suggest the need to reassess the conservation priorities of less charismatic species too, as many of these species are crucial to ecosystem health and are at greater risk of extinction.