CONTRIBUTION TO THE IUCN RED DATA BOOK: A CASE STUDY OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED NARROW ENDEMIC SPECIES, ANDROSACE OJHORENSIS Y. NASIR.

Androsace ojhorensis Y. Nasir (Primulaceae) is a narrow endemic species which is restricted to its type locality only i.e. Ojhor Valley in District Chitral, Pakistan at an altitudinal range of 12000-13000 ft. A total of 95 mature individuals (flowering and fruiting individuals) were counted and recorded in 2016, 82 in 2017 and 75 in 2018. The Grazing Index (GI) for the year 2016, 2017 and 2018 was 12.63%, 29.26% and 42.66% respectively. On the basis of extensive and intensive floristic surveys and population statistics for three consecutive years (2016-2018), geographic range (Extent of Occurrence-8 km2 and Area of Occupancy-4.407 km2), soil erosion, grazing pressure and landslides, Androsace ojhorensis is categorized as Critically Endangered (CR) species according to IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (2012). As this taxon is exposed to many threats, there is dire need to develop species-specific in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies to implement these managements effectively at national level in order to save this narrow endemic species from extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]