Golestankooh, the natural habitat of Fritillaria imperialis and one of the main centers of plant diversity in Isfahan Province

Document Type : Over looking Iranian Nature

Authors

1 Assistant Prof., Natural Resources Research Department, Isfahan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, AREEO, Tehran, Iran.

3 - Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, AREEO, Tehran, Iran.

10.22092/irn.2026.371774.1715

Abstract

Golestankooh is located in the western part of Isfahan Province and is recognized as one of the mountainous areas of high conservation importance in Iran. The region is particularly well known as the natural habitat of the imperial lily (Fritillaria imperialis L.). According to a floristic survey conducted in the area, a total of 620 taxa, including species, subspecies, and varieties, belonging to 303 genera and 61 families have been recorded, of which approximately 21% are Iranian endemic taxa. This high level of plant diversity, together with the presence of high-altitude-adapted taxa associated with semi-alpine and alpine conditions, highlights the distinctive role of Golestankooh in conserving the genetic resources of mountain flora. However, factors such as unsustainable harvesting of medicinal plants, livestock grazing, increasing tourism pressure, and climate change, particularly reduced precipitation and rising temperatures, pose challenges to the stability of the region’s high-altitude ecosystems. The continuation of these pressures may lead to population declines in sensitive taxa and alterations in floristic composition, emphasizing the need for conservation-oriented management approaches based on the ecological characteristics of Golestankooh

Keywords

References

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Iran Nature
Volume 11, Issue 2 - Serial Number 57
July and August 2026
Pages 61-71

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