CONSERVATION OF ENDEMIC AND THREATENED FLOWERING PLANTS: CHALLENGES AND PRIORITIES FOR INDIA

Abstract

In the light of the anthropogenic-induced sixth mass extinction crisis that is pushing a large number of species to threatened category, conservation of biological diversity has become a global challenge in the coming decades. Establishing protected areas has been the main conservation approach; however, many threatened species require human intervention for effective recovery and conservation. Although human-induced environmental changes act as proximate drivers for species extinction, the ultimate cause is the inability of species to recruit adequate number of new individuals to sustain populations. Identification of recruitment constraint(s) is the primary requirement for their effective conservation. In the light of uncertainties of conserving a majority of endemic and endangered species of flowering plants before they become extinct, many Western countries have initiated their ex situ conservation in seed banks, similar to seeds of crop species, as an insurance measure. India is a megadiversity country with a large number of endemic and threatened species. Although a number of protected areas have been established around the country, neither they are effectively managed nor the recovery of species to be conserved are monitored until they become self-sustainable. We do not have the base-line data on recruitment constraints of most of our species to be conserved, and our conservation efforts have largely remained arbitrary and unfocussed; there are very few success stories. For effective conservation, there is a need for initiating long-term, multidisciplinary, integrated approach involving not only scientists but also local communities, government and non-government organizations and general public. As it is unlikely to conserve most of our endemic and threatened species within a reasonable time frame, there is an urgent need to start preserving their germplasm in seed banks as a viable and cost-effective conservation approach