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Ehretia obtusifolia | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Publication
UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species was first recorded for the UAE in 1996 from cliffs on Jebel Qitab at c. 1,000 m asl (Feulner 1997) and this remains the single known site for the species in the UAE. The species is locally common at a small number of localities above c. 800 m elsewhere in Hajar Mountains in Oman (including Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Ghaweel; Feulner 1997). It is absent from the Ru'us al-Jibal in the UAE (Feulner 2011). The species has an EOO and an AOO of less than 20 km<sup>2</sup>. Jongbloed et al. (2003) show the species in the Wadi Khabb Shamsi gorge, in Oman. The native range of this species is from southern Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula, to northwestern India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The species is found on moist and sheltering northeast facing slopes, summit cliffs and ravines at Jebel Qitab (Feulner 2014). It generally grows amongst rocks, where it is often found spread below other large shrubs or trees (Feulner 2014), and is often associated with olive trees (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010). Little or no regeneration is seen.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
D
Assessment rationale/justification
This species was first recorded for the UAE in 1996; this single know location at Jebel Qitab, from c. 650 m to c. 1,000 m asl, still remains. The species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) and an area of occupancy (AOO) of less than 20 km<sup>2</sup> and occurs in one location, based on drought and the potential threats of grazing. G.R. Feulner (in litt, MEW 2010) reported a maximum of 30 plants, perhaps fewer than 20, and there was little or no regeneration seen. The species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR D) based on the number of mature individuals being less than 50. Whilst the species occurs at other sites within the Hajar Mountains in Oman, it is thought that there is little opportunity for a rescue effect, and the assessment remains CR.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
The species has been impacted in the past by periods of drought (Feulner 2014). Grazing by feral donkeys and goats may also pose a threat.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The species was first seen in 1997, when they were in better condition (wetter years) but with the same or similar number of individuals.