IUCN Red List assessment of the Cape Verde endemic flora: towards a global strategy for plant conservation in Macaronesia

• DOI: 10.1111/boj.12370
• Publication Date: 2015-12-29T03:02:40Z
• Authors: Maria M. Romeiras; Silvia Catarino; Isildo Gomes; Claudia Fernandes; Jose C. Costa; Juli Caujapé-Cast...; Maria Cristina Du...
• Keywords: Cape verde; Endemism; Herbarium; Flora; Conservation-dependent species; Archipelago

We review the conservation status and threats to endemic vascular flora of Cape Verde islands, mostly based on past two decades collecting, literature herbarium specimens. The application IUCN Red List criteria categories using RAMAS software reveals that 78% plants are threatened (29.3% Critically Endangered, 41.3% 7.6% Vulnerable). Most these endemics have a limited geographical range, half them Areas Occupancy Extents Occurrence < 20 200 km2, respectively. Our data show that, over last decades, become more their has declined, as consequence increase in exotic species, habitat degradation human disturbance. This paper presents first comprehensive for Verde, thus providing an important step towards recognition its at national global level. It also fills knowledge gap, it represents thorough assessment entire Macaronesian archipelago.