Kalema, J. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2024

Afrothismia ugandensis sp. nov. (Afrothismiaceae), Critically Endangered and endemic to Budongo Central Forest Reserve, Uganda

The fully mycotrophic Afrothismia ugandensis (Afrothismiaceae), formerly described as A. winkleri var. budongensis Cowley, is renamed, redescribed and illustrated from the Budongo Forest in Western Uganda. This change in status is supported by eight newly elucidated qualitative morphological diagnostic characters despite the overall similarity with A. winkleri, a species restricted to Cameroon and Gabon. Afrothismia ugandensis is remarkable in the genus for occurring in semi-deciduous (not evergreen) forest and for having ellipsoid or ovoid (vs. globose) root bulbils. It has only been recorded twice, first in August 1940, and most recently in June 1998, despite targeted searches in recent years. In both 1940 and 1998, only single individuals appear to have been detected. A single site for the species is known with certainty. It is here assessed as Critically Endangered (CR B2ab (iii); D1) using the IUCN 2012 categories and criteria. Afrothismia ugandensis is threatened by forest degradation and clearance due to illegal selective small-holder logging for firewood and charcoal, timber and limited agriculture.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Improving the application of Important Plant Areas to conserve threatened habitats: a case study of Uganda

Important Plant Areas (IPAs) are a successful method of identifying priority areas for plant conservation. Assessment of IPAs, however, often relies on criteria related to species, while incorporation of habitats has been less consistent. Using Uganda as a case study, we test the application of the threatened habitat criterion - criterion C. We identified nationally threatened habitats using Red List of Ecosystems criteria and assess, for the first time, how differing application of thresholds under criterion C can influence IPA network outcomes. Eleven threatened habitats were identified, with declines switching from predominantly forest to savanna after the mid-20th century. Significantly, we found current IPA guidance on use of Criterion C needlessly limits the number of sites that qualify as IPAs. The "five best sites" threshold is reserved for countries where quantitative data is unavailable, however, the application of the relevant thresholds to quantitative data largely generated fewer than five IPAs, comparably limiting conservation opportunities identified. We recommend, therefore, that the "five best" threshold is available for application on both qualitative and quantitative data. This will bolster the value of IPAs in conserving and restoring threatened and ecologically important habitats under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

ecology↗