Determining the conservation status of the exclusive species Lathyrus alamutensis Mozaff., Ahavazi & Charkhch

Document Type : Rare and Endangered Plant Species of Iran

Authors

1 Research Institute of Forests and Pastures of the country

2 Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, AREEO, Tehran, Iran

10.22092/irn.2025.367435.1614

Abstract

Lathyrus alamutensis is a perennial plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. This plant is endemic to Iran and is found in a small region of the Alamut Heights, specifically in Haniz village and Siahlan, located in the northeast of Qazvin. It exists in limited numbers at altitudes ranging from 2200 to 2900 meters above sea level. The conservation status of this species was assessed as part of a project focused on determining the conservation status of plants and ecosystems in Iran. The evaluation was based on the guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and considered three criteria: extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, and population size. The results indicate that Lathyrus alamutensis is classified as a Critically Endangered (CR) species according to IUCN criteria. Climate change, recurrent droughts, human intervention, land-use change, and overgrazing are significant threats to this species. Both in-situ and ex-situ conservation measures are necessary to protect it. For in-situ conservation, overgrazing must be controlled by the Natural Resources and Watershed Organization of Iran, and the habitat should be designated as protected. Ex-situ conservation should involve the preservation of seeds in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran and cultivation efforts in the National Botanical Garden of Iran.

Keywords

References

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Iran Nature
Volume 9, Issue 6 - Serial Number 49
January and February 2025
Pages 109-116

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