Representativeness Assessment of Protected Areas Network Emphasizing Plant Diversity in Charmahal & Bakhtiari, Iran

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In this study, we assessed the representativeness of protected areas in Charmahal & Bakhtiari province, Iran, in terms of vegetation types and endemic plants species as biodiversity surrogates. We applied "systematic conservation planning" procedure as our method. The conservation target for each vegetation types was determined based on their natural rarity and threats. One representation in existing and/or planned protected areas was also considered as endemic/rare plants species conservation targets. 7.43% of the study area is officially under protection; however 19 vegetation types out of 36 and 33 endemic/rare plants species out of 52 are not represented in the existing protected areas. Meanwhile, 14 endemic/rare species were represented only once and 12 vegetation types less than established targets. Representativeness of existing protected areas network can improve by adding new areas in an appropriate spatial configuration from forest types located in Bazoft valley and also Kallar mounts for covering rare plants species. The total area needed to meet the entire targets for all vegetation types was 15.61% of the study area which approximately was two times of the existing protected areas (7.43%) and a little more than statutory and planned protected areas together (14.76%).

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