A new method to set conservation priorities in biodiversity hotspots

Prioritization of endemic, threatened species and the habitats where they live is a crucial
point of conservation actions, particularly in areas with rich endemic floras. In this
study we have developed a new procedure to define the conservation priorities among
endemic plants and habitats by evaluating eight criteria. Five criteria deal with the
geographic and ecological range of the evaluated species, whereas the other three refer
to threats. After the evaluation of each criterion, we combined the partial scores to
obtain a Priority Index (PI). Finally, we characterized the EU habitat categories of
conservation concern on the basis of the average PI value of the plants living in each
habitat. We tested the method on a list of 260 endemic plants from a biodiversity
hotspot (Sardinia), that had an average PI of 3.66 ± 0.16. Even if the habitat categories
that are most rich in endemic plants were rocky habitats, and coastal/ halophytic
habitats, the most endangered habitat was coastal sand dunes (PI = 6.75 ± 1.15). The
method herein presented is complementary with the application of IUCN criteria.This
integrated approach is a concrete solution that adapts IUCN criteria and categories to
local contexts