Endangered Species of Plants

Introduction

Endangered plants are any living species of plants vulnerable to extinction shortly, either globally or in specific geographic locations. Out of the 1.9 million living species of flora and fauna, about 0.7 million are plants. According to The Guardian newspaper, around 40% of existing plants await extinction. The loss of endangered plant species annually will threaten the supply of food, fuel, medicines, etc.

Knowing an Endangered Plant

A living plant species become endangered when

1. Its population shrinks significantly in recent years
2. The decline is continuous without a check
3. Its geographic range also sharply shrinks

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IUCN Red List Classification of Endangered Plants

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) devised a plan in 1994 to classify endangered species of plants and animals into the following categories for which adequate data is available. 

1. Critically Endangered-There is a 90% decline in population in 10 years
2. Endangered – There is a 50% decline in population in 10 years
3. Vulnerable- There is a 30% decline in population in 10 years
4. Near threatened
5. Least Concerned
6. Extinct in wild
7. Extinction 

The first three categories are collectively called ‘Threatened Species’ as they are at high risk of immediate extinction without proper safeguards.

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The Cause of Plant Species Becoming Endangered

1. Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation: It is the biggest cause of the endangerment of plants. Human activities like agriculture, deforestation, mining, wars and hydel projects destroy plant habitats. Diminishing plant habitat causes a decline in their population, paving their way to extinction.
2. Invasive species: The plantation of exotic species can adversely affect the local plants’ populations. The exotic plant outstrips the local plant in competing for minerals and space, and gradually drives the latter to extinction. For example, the British colonial rulers introduced Congress Grass (Parthenium hysterophorus) in India.
3. Commercial use: Commercial overexploitation has endangered several plants, like the exploitation of cherry plants in Africa has made it an endangered plant.
4. Pollution: Some plants are susceptible to pollution, which triggers their extinction.
5. Natural causes: Wildfires, drought, floods and landslides also endanger plants.
6. Diseases: Fungal diseases have wiped several plants at different locations or pushed them towards extinction.
7. Human-wildlife conflict: Due to the ever-increasing human population, farming, industrialisation and infrastructure development have expanded gradually, resulting in conflicts with wildlife as these spaces are created at the cost of shrinking the natural habitat of endangered plants.

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Some Endangered Plant Species in India

1. Malabar Lily: Found in Tamil Nadu, its botanical name is Chlorophytum malabaricum.
2. Musli: Found in Tamil Nadu, its botanical name is Chlorophytum tuberosum. 
3. Malappuram: Found in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, its botanical name is Pterospermum reticulatum.
4. Jeemikanda: Found in Gujarat and Rajasthan, its botanical name is  Ceropegia odorata.
5. Ebony tree: Found in Karnataka, its botanical name is Diospyros celibica.
6. Bird`s foot: Found in Gujarat, its botanical name is Lotus corniculatus.
7. Assam catkin: Found in Arunachal Pradesh, its botanical name is Amentotaxus assamica. 

Laws Formulated to Protect Endangered Plant Species

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

The Indian Parliament enacted the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972 to protect the wild flora and fauna. Through this act, India became one of the signatories of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) in 1973. The flashpoint of the act is protecting endangered species of plants and animals. It has six schedules, and the sixth schedule is dedicated to protecting endangered plants.

• CITES

CITES, also known as the Washington Convention, was ratified in 1974 by 80 countries. It became effective in 1975 and now has 182 countries as parties to it. CITES aims to impart moral and legal responsibilities to the member countries to protect endangered species in their respective jurisdictions and prevent transborder trades.

• Endangered Species Act, 1973 of USA

The US Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973 that envisages all states to protect endangered species of plants and animals. Also, it prohibits the import, export, and consumption of plants, animals, and fishes listed as threatened or endangered.

Conclusion

Plants are becoming endangered at an alarming rate, mostly due to human activities like destruction and fragmentation of their habitat, excessive commercial exploitation, the introduction of invasive species that disturb their typical ecosystem and pollution. Some of the natural factors that also contribute are diseases, natural calamities, rare populations because of low fertility and genetic vulnerability. It is now crucial to collect information about such endangered plant species, classify them based on their vulnerability indices, enact laws and policies to protect their natural habitat and devise plans to save them through captive breeding and habitat restoration.

Each plant species plays a definitive role in their habitat, which forms a part of the food chain and balances the functioning of the ecosystem. Any loss of endangered species will disrupt our ecosystem and also deprive us of essential requirements like medicines, food and biofuel.