Oman Plant Red Data Book

Rich and diverse, the flora and vegetation of Oman are among the most varied in the Arabian Peninsula. In this time of climate change, global threats to biodiversity and accelerating loss of species worldwide, Oman's rich flora represents an invaluable resource and the country is leading conservation efforts in Arabia.

Efforts to seek out plant species of high priority for conservation have become increasingly urgent in light of losses of natural habitats and the biodiversity they contain. The concept of identification of threatened species and their presentation in Red Lists is an important international tool for helping to determine which species should receive priority attention for conservation. The Oman Plant Red Data Book was compiled with the aim of assessing and documenting all threatened plants and to provide guidelines for why and where conservation efforts should be concentrated.

Until recently, however, there had been little research and information into this subject. It was also very apparent that the rapid development and modernisation of the country would pose challenges to the survival of some of Oman's rarest and most threatened plants. As many baseline data about the distribution area of species and their population sizes were lacking, detailed botanical surveys throughout the whole country have been undertaken.

The author Annette Patzelt provides a comprehensive record for 261 plant species. Oman Plant Red Data Book is the result of an analysis of the entire flora of Oman and the information has been carefully researched, documented and analysed. Photographs of most species provide easy identification and support this most significant first publication of the Oman Botanic Garden.