Habitat Distribution Modeling for Reintroduction of <i>Cordia</i><i> </i><i>macleodii</i> in India

Cordia macleodii (Boraginaceae), small-sized tree, is distributed in moist and dry deciduous forests of India. C. macleodii is a reputed folk medicinal plant used by locals and tribal communities in several disease treatments. Due to its high medicinal value, C. macleodii is susceptible to a high degree of anthropogenic pressure. Despite the enormous threats, there have been very limited concentrated efforts to address conservation concerns, such as mapping of the distribution pattern. Therefore, the present study was carried out to predict the current and future suitable distribution of C. macleodii in India using Maxent species distribution model. Output of maxent model reveal that the suitable habitat for distribution is Western Ghat. When compared to the currently predicted suitable habitat area, future prediction model for 2050 showed decrease of habitat area by 4.84%. The strongest predictors for the distribution of C. macleodii were Annual Precipitation (bio 12), Minimum Temperature of Coldest Month (bio 6) and Precipitation of Warmest Quarter (bio 18).