Reintroduction of Buchanania barberi, a critically endangered tree endemic to the south Western Ghats of Kerala, India

Abstract

Societal Impact Statement India is credited with 2603 tree species, and the Global Tree Assessment confirmed that 469 of these species are threatened with extinction. Urgent restoration and conservation efforts are required to prevent the loss of tree diversity. The present study is the first published attempt to reintroduce Buchanania barberi, a Critically Endangered tree endemic to the south Western Ghats (UNESCO World Heritage Site) of Kerala, India, which has only two surviving mature individuals. The techniques and approaches applied here may provide guidance for implementing translocation programmes for this rare species and also for other International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Listed species of the genus globally.

Keywords

• Buchanania barberi
• critically endangered
• endemic
• germination
• global tree assessment
• reintroduction