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Conservation status evaluation of Berberis species across the Karakoram Mountain Ranges, Pakistan using IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria

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Abstract

Berberis species are endangered, high-value medicinal plants in Pakistan with important eco-cultural, commercial and livelihood roles in mountain communities. To assess the geographical distribution of Berberis species across the Karakoram Mountain Ranges in Pakistan, we used IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (2001) to calculate the extent of occurrence (EOO, <100 km2) and the area of occupancy (AOO, <10 km2) of Berberis pseudumbellata subsp. pseudumbellata and B. pseudumbellata subsp. gilgitica. Overgrazing and habitat loss were key population-limiting factors. The two subspecies had contrasting responses to temperature, elevation, precipitation and insect susceptibility. B. pseudumbellata subsp. gilgitica is endemic to Gilgit-Baltistan and grows in single-cropping zone (areas > 200 m a.s.l.). Status evaluation revealed that both subspecies meet the criteria set for critically endangered species. Prolonged disregard of its declining population trend might lead to its extinction; therefore, integrated conservation efforts are necessary.

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Acknowledgments

This study was part of the PhD research of T. Khan with generous financial support from EvK2CNR through the SEED project in collaboration with Karakoram International University, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Integrated Mountain Area Research Centre, Karakoram International University, Gilgit, 15100, Pakistan

    Tika Khan

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Karakoram International University, Gilgit, 15100, Pakistan

    Imtiaz Ahmed Khan & Abdul Rehman

  3. Centre of Agriculture Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Nisar Ahmed

Authors
  1. Tika Khan
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  2. Imtiaz Ahmed Khan
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  3. Abdul Rehman
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  4. Nisar Ahmed
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tika Khan.

Additional information

Project funding: This study is supported by Social Economic Environment Development (SEED) Project funded by Everest Karakoram 2 National Research Centre (EvK2CNR) through Karakoram International University (KIU), Gilgit, Pakistan.

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Corresponding editor: Zhu Hong

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Khan, T., Khan, I.A., Rehman, A. et al. Conservation status evaluation of Berberis species across the Karakoram Mountain Ranges, Pakistan using IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. J. For. Res. 27, 1385–1390 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-016-0260-z

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