Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Endemic Plant Resources
Summary
Endemic plant species—those confined to specific geographical regions—represent irreplaceable components of global biodiversity. Their restricted ranges often coincide with unique habitat conditions, rendering them particularly vulnerable to habitat loss, climate change and overexploitation. Conservation strategies encompass in situ measures, such as the establishment of protected areas and habitat restoration, alongside ex situ approaches including seed banking, tissue culture and living collections. Sustainable utilisation seeks to reconcile human needs with species survival, promoting cultivation, domestication and equitable benefit‐sharing. Value‐chain development, community engagement and interdisciplinary research underpin efforts to transform endemic taxa from wild harvest liabilities into sustainable agro‐ecological and commercial assets. Policy frameworks, from local management plans to international treaties, provide the structural support for balancing conservation goals with socio‐economic development. Recent advances emphasise holistic models integrating ecological, agronomic and socioeconomic dimensions to secure both the persistence of endemic lineages and the livelihoods of dependent communities.
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Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Endemic Plant Resources publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in conservation and sustainable utilization of endemic plant resources across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Endemic species: A plant taxon native to, and restricted within, a defined geographical area.
In situ conservation: Protection of species within their natural habitats through reserves, habitat management and ecological restoration.
Ex situ conservation: Safeguarding genetic material outside natural settings, including seed banks, living collections and tissue culture.
Value chain feasibility: Assessment of the technical, economic and social factors that enable sustainable production, processing and marketing of plant resources.
Propagation protocol: A standardised procedure for producing new plants from seeds, cuttings or cultured tissues to support cultivation and restoration efforts.
References
- Exploring the Potential of Neglected Local Endemic Plants of Three Mediterranean Regions in the Ornamental Sector: Value Chain Feasibility and Readiness Timescale for Their Sustainable Exploitation. Sustainability (2021).
- Medicinal-Cosmetic Potential of the Local Endemic Plants of Crete (Greece), Northern Morocco and Tunisia: Priorities for Conservation and Sustainable Exploitation of Neglected and Underutilized Phytogenetic Resources. Biology (2021).
- GIS-Facilitated Effective Propagation Protocols of the Endangered Local Endemic of Crete Carlina diae (Rech. f.) Meusel and A. Kástner (Asteraceae): Serving Ex Situ Conservation Needs and Its Future Sustainable Utilization as an Ornamental. Plants (2020).
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