Developing and implementing a multi-stage conservation strategy for Egyptian endemic flora: from assessment to action
Background: The Egyptian endemic taxa face significant anthropogenic and natural threats despite their ecological and economic importance. These threats have resulted in habitat degradation, population decline, and restricted geographical range. Neglecting these warning signs could lead to extinctio...
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The Ecological Society of Korea
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Ecology and Environment |
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| Online Access: | http://www.e-jecoenv.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.5141/jee.25.042 |
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| author | Karim Omar Ibrahim Elgamal |
| author_facet | Karim Omar Ibrahim Elgamal |
| author_sort | Karim Omar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The Egyptian endemic taxa face significant anthropogenic and natural threats despite their ecological and economic importance. These threats have resulted in habitat degradation, population decline, and restricted geographical range. Neglecting these warning signs could lead to extinction, raising concerns due to uncertainties in their distribution and conservation status. This study presents a model for conserving endemic plant taxa in Egypt through three main steps: (1) Assessing the ecological and conservation status of endemic taxa using comprehensive reviews and detailed field verifications based on IUCN Red List criteria; (2) Developing maps for potential hotspots of endemic species using species distribution models (SDMs); and (3) Implementing rehabilitation projects for selected species at risk of extinction, informed by previous findings. Results: A total of 49 endemic taxa were identified across 20 governorates, representing 74% of Egypt's total governorates. Most species are concentrated in South Sinai, the Red Sea, Matrouh, North Sinai, and the New Valley. Threat levels varied according to population size and geographic distribution. Among these, 38 species (77.5%) are globally threatened: 6 Critically Endangered, 27 Endangered, and 5 Vulnerable. One species was classified as Least Concern, while 10 were listed as Data Deficient, requiring further studies. SDMs revealed that suitable habitats for endemic species are concentrated in the Mediterranean, the Nile River, South Sinai, the Red Sea, and parts of the New Valley, covering 11.6% of Egypt's area. Major threats include coastal, urban, and industrial expansion, overgrazing, over-collection, mining activities, and climate change. To counter habitat decline, conservation and rehabilitation projects were carried out for seven threatened endemic species in the St. Catherine Protected Area. Survival rates varied after one year of planting: Micromeria serbaliana and Silene oreosinaica showed no survival, while Primula boveana had 2.9%, Bufonia multiceps 31%, Anarrhinum forskaohlii subsp. pubescens 47%, Phlomis aurea 50%, and Rosa arabica 73.2%. Conclusions: Investing in fieldwork monitoring and rehabilitation for endemic plant taxa is crucial. This structured program ensures systematic data collection, effective implementation, ongoing monitoring, and identification of conservation gaps, ultimately safeguarding these unique species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ed3079720ce841d18b2e4ea2139f8c5b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2287-8327 2288-1220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | The Ecological Society of Korea |
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| series | Journal of Ecology and Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-ed3079720ce841d18b2e4ea2139f8c5b2025-08-20T03:15:53ZengThe Ecological Society of KoreaJournal of Ecology and Environment2287-83272288-12202025-08-014910.5141/jee.25.042jee.25.042Developing and implementing a multi-stage conservation strategy for Egyptian endemic flora: from assessment to actionKarim Omar0Ibrahim Elgamal1Nature Conservation Secor, Egyptian Ministry of Environment, Cairo 11728, EgyptTilad Environmental Consultation and Veterinary Medicine, Riyadh 13265-4510, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaBackground: The Egyptian endemic taxa face significant anthropogenic and natural threats despite their ecological and economic importance. These threats have resulted in habitat degradation, population decline, and restricted geographical range. Neglecting these warning signs could lead to extinction, raising concerns due to uncertainties in their distribution and conservation status. This study presents a model for conserving endemic plant taxa in Egypt through three main steps: (1) Assessing the ecological and conservation status of endemic taxa using comprehensive reviews and detailed field verifications based on IUCN Red List criteria; (2) Developing maps for potential hotspots of endemic species using species distribution models (SDMs); and (3) Implementing rehabilitation projects for selected species at risk of extinction, informed by previous findings. Results: A total of 49 endemic taxa were identified across 20 governorates, representing 74% of Egypt's total governorates. Most species are concentrated in South Sinai, the Red Sea, Matrouh, North Sinai, and the New Valley. Threat levels varied according to population size and geographic distribution. Among these, 38 species (77.5%) are globally threatened: 6 Critically Endangered, 27 Endangered, and 5 Vulnerable. One species was classified as Least Concern, while 10 were listed as Data Deficient, requiring further studies. SDMs revealed that suitable habitats for endemic species are concentrated in the Mediterranean, the Nile River, South Sinai, the Red Sea, and parts of the New Valley, covering 11.6% of Egypt's area. Major threats include coastal, urban, and industrial expansion, overgrazing, over-collection, mining activities, and climate change. To counter habitat decline, conservation and rehabilitation projects were carried out for seven threatened endemic species in the St. Catherine Protected Area. Survival rates varied after one year of planting: Micromeria serbaliana and Silene oreosinaica showed no survival, while Primula boveana had 2.9%, Bufonia multiceps 31%, Anarrhinum forskaohlii subsp. pubescens 47%, Phlomis aurea 50%, and Rosa arabica 73.2%. Conclusions: Investing in fieldwork monitoring and rehabilitation for endemic plant taxa is crucial. This structured program ensures systematic data collection, effective implementation, ongoing monitoring, and identification of conservation gaps, ultimately safeguarding these unique species.http://www.e-jecoenv.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.5141/jee.25.042conservation prioritiesendemismextinctioniucn red listprotected areasrehabilitationspecies distribution models |
| spellingShingle | Karim Omar Ibrahim Elgamal Developing and implementing a multi-stage conservation strategy for Egyptian endemic flora: from assessment to action Journal of Ecology and Environment conservation priorities endemism extinction iucn red list protected areas rehabilitation species distribution models |
| title | Developing and implementing a multi-stage conservation strategy for Egyptian endemic flora: from assessment to action |
| title_full | Developing and implementing a multi-stage conservation strategy for Egyptian endemic flora: from assessment to action |
| title_fullStr | Developing and implementing a multi-stage conservation strategy for Egyptian endemic flora: from assessment to action |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing and implementing a multi-stage conservation strategy for Egyptian endemic flora: from assessment to action |
| title_short | Developing and implementing a multi-stage conservation strategy for Egyptian endemic flora: from assessment to action |
| title_sort | developing and implementing a multi stage conservation strategy for egyptian endemic flora from assessment to action |
| topic | conservation priorities endemism extinction iucn red list protected areas rehabilitation species distribution models |
| url | http://www.e-jecoenv.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.5141/jee.25.042 |
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