IUCN Red List conservation assessment uncovers a high level of extinction risk to the High Atlas biodiversity hotspots

Abstract This article addresses the conservation status of and threats to High Atlas strict endemic vascular flora, based on IUCN Red List criteria and categories, fieldwork observation, literature review, and herbarium studies. As such, it represents the first comprehensive IUCN Red List assessment of the flora of the High Atlas. The study provides baseline data to support monitoring the status of plants in the region and represents an essential step for conservation planning. All strict endemic vascular flora species of the High Atlas were evaluated using the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, revealing that most of these species are threatened (33% Critically Endangered, 62% Endangered, 4% Vulnerable, and 1% Near Threatened). Most of these endemics have a very strict geographical distribution, with areas of occupancy <5000 km2 and extents of occurrence <500 km2. Compared with previous initiatives, our study showed that this flora has become more threatened, with a high level of extinction risk. The major threats to this endemic flora and species’ habitats include overgrazing, climate change and drought, habitat fragmentation, deforestation, overcollection and unsustainable plant exploitation, tourism and recreation activities, agriculture intensification, urbanization, and infrastructure development. Other less prevalent threats are fires and pollution. This comprehensive collection of data for the High Atlas represents a key tool for the acknowledgment and conservation of this threatened endemic flora at the national and international level. In addition, it fills knowledge gaps to guide policy-makers to prioritize conservation actions now and in response to future environmental developments in this key biodiversity area.