A third of the tropical African flora is potentially threatened with extinction

2019

Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000499736100083

Stevart T., Dauby Gilles, Lowry P. P., Blach-Overgaard A., Droissart Vincent, Harris D. J., Mackinder B. A., Schatz G. E., Sonke B., Sosef M. S. M., Svenning J. C., Wieringa J. J., Couvreur Thomas

Science Advances, 2019, 5 (11), p. eaax9444 [13 p.] ISSN 2375-2548

Preserving tropical biodiversity is an urgent challenge when faced with the growing needs of countries. Despite their crucial importance for terrestrial ecosystems, most tropical plant species lack extinction risk assessments, limiting our ability to identify conservation priorities. Using a novel approach aligned with IUCN Red List criteria, we conducted a continental-scale preliminary conservation assessment of 22,036 vascular plant species in tropical Africa. Our results underline the high level of extinction risk of the tropical African flora. Thirty-three percent of the species are potentially threatened with extinction, and another third of species are likely rare, potentially becoming threatened in the near future. Four regions are highlighted with a high proportion (>40%) of potentially threatened species: Ethiopia, West Africa, central Tanzania, and southern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our approach represents a first step toward data-driven conservation assessments applicable at continental scales providing crucial information for sustainable economic development prioritization.

Sciences du monde végétal [076] ; Etudes, transformation, conservation du milieu naturel [082]

AFRIQUE ; ZONE TROPICALE ; SIERRA LEONE ; GAMBIE ; ETHIOPIE ; LIBERIA ; SENEGAL ; COTE D'IVOIRE ; GUINEE ; GHANA ; BENIN ; OUGANDA

Fonds IRD [F B010077420]

fdi:010077420