THE RED LIST OF TREES OF THE CAUCASUS

The Caucasus region (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) is an important centre of diversity for trees, especially pears (Pyrus). However, the trees of the region have been under-represented for some time on the global red list due to a lack of data on their conservation status.

To rectify this, a Global Trees Campaign workshop was held in Tbilisi, Georgia in September, 2005. It aimed to evaluate the conservation status of trees and shrubs of the Caucasus, as well as promoting regional cooperation and facilitating the development of conservation action. The workshop was attended by 20 experts, representing the three Caucasian countries mentioned above, the UK, USA and Germany. Unfortunately, no participants from Iran (also part of the Caucasus eco-region) were present.

Of the 150 taxa evaluated, seven were classified as being Critically Endangered (CR), ten Endangered (EN) and 15 Vulnerable (VU). These included four species of Pyrus that were listed as Endangered. This information is now being incorporated into a comprehensive plant red list of the region being led by the IUCN and Missouri Botanical Garden which is expected to be published in 2009.

Following the workshop, the Global Trees Campaign has worked in partnership with institutions in the region, particularly the Vasil Gulisahvili Forest Institute (VGFI) in Georgia, to gather more information on the status of pear species in the region – see Pears in the Caucusus.

To download the 2005 Workshop report click here

For more information about plant Red Listing in the Caucasus, please click here

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