THE CURRENT SITUATION OF THREATENED ENDEMIC FLORA IN TURKEY: KEMALIYE (ERZİNCAN) CASE

Abstract

The flora in Turkey is an outstanding one in terms of its biodiversity and the variety of endemic plant species. In this study, efforts have been made to determine the current situation of Turkey in general and local region (Kemaliye), being rich for endemic plants, based on International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Sources (IUCN) in order to present abundancy of endemic plants in Turkey and conditions in which endemic plant have been threatened. Of 3504 endemic plants in Turkey, 12 are known to have been extinct and 3492 (99 %) are still being threatened. Of 61 endemic plants in Kemaliye region, 5 is known to have been extinct and 54 (88%) to be threatened. This study provides some suggestions about conservation and management of such plants by considering their threatened categories.