Are aquatic plants really endangered in Tajikistan (core area of the Mountains of central Asia global biodiversity hotspot)?

A recent study challenges the perception that aquatic plants are endangered in Tajikistan, a core region of the Central Asia biodiversity hotspot. Researchers conducted field inventories across diverse waterbodies in South Tajikistan and East Pamir, identifying five new plant taxa for the country (including Lemna × japonica and Nymphaea odorata) and expanding known distributions for 22 species. While declines were noted in the unique tugai landscapes of Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve, the findings suggest that Central Asian alpine waterbodies may serve as biodiversity hotspots rather than solely threatened habitats. The study underscores the need for ongoing monitoring to reassess conservation statuses and update Red Lists amid rising tourism pressures.

Volkova, P. A., Ivanova, M. O., Boboev, M. T., Dadykin, I. A., Nobis, M., Nowak, A., & Bobrov, A. A. (2024). Are aquatic plants really endangered in Tajikistan (core area of the Mountains of central Asia global biodiversity hotspot)? Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, 17(4), 769–779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2024.04.009