Categorization of species under different threat classes is a pre-requisite for planning, management and monitoring of any species conservation programme. However, data availability, particularly at the population level, has been a major bottleneck in the correct categorization of threatened species. Till date, threat assessments have been mostly based on expert opinion and/or herbarium records. The availability of primary data on distribution of species and their population attributes is limited in India because of inadequate field survey, which has been ascribed to resource constraints and inaccessibility. In this study, we demonstrate that ecological niche modelling (ENM) can be an economical and effective tool to guide surveys overcoming the above two constraints leading to the discovery of new populations of threatened species. Such data lead to improved threat assessment and more accurate categorization. We selected 14 threatened plants comprising 5 trees (Acer hookeri Miq., Bhesa robusta (Roxb.) Ding Hou, Gynocardia odorata Roxb., Ilex venulosa Hook. f. and Lagerstroemia minu-

No abstract

Rare and endemic species comprise globally a priority conservation concern in view of being at a higher risk of extinction. Recording the occurrence data for such species, especially in hardly accessible alpine habitats, is a rather challenging task. Modelling serves as effective tool for predicting habitat suitability and practising artificial introductions for such species with encouraging conservation implications. We used Maxent modelling to predict the habitats suitable for Lagotis cashmiriana (ROYLE) RUPR., a threatened species endemic to Kashmir Himalaya. Our modelling approach consisted of two rounds of modelling and one round of ground validations. The first round of modelling was based on the published literature and herbarium records and the second round included the new records that were obtained from ground validations based on first model predictions. Through this approach, we were able to identify several new populations of L. cashmiriana and reported a significant increase in its range size. We also identified the suitable areas for reintroduction of L. cashmiriana in the western Himalayan region after identifying a broad range of environmental factors that determine the distribution of this species.

No abstract