Conservation of Magnolias in Colombia

摘要

Colombia is considered one df the global priorities for species conservation, because of its high number of ecosystems, species and infraspecific taxa at some risk of extinction. Colombian scientists launched the National Strategy for Plant Conservation in 2001, as a follow-up of the Global Strategy of Plant Conservation. The National Strategy includes: a) research, monitoring, and management of information; b) in situ and ex situ conservation; c) plant use and management; d) public awareness and education; e) cooperation among institutions. The Magnoliaceae were chosen as a pilot group to implement the Strategy, due to their high level of threat, their wide geographical distribution in the country, the availability of Colombian specialists in the family, and the use and importance of native magnolias to local communities. Projects carried out so far include the genetic variability of some Dugandiodendron species and of Magnolia espinalii, an evaluation of the extant populations of Magnolia silvioi, in situ and ex situ studies of sexual and asexual reproduction, and chemical analyses of leaves and pollen. A phylogenetic analysis of Dugandiodendron and its implications for conservation, was the subject of a M Sc dissertation. A guide to the fourteen species known in that department, Magnoliaceae ofAntioquia, was published in 2005. Two species new to science were recently described. A new categorization of threatened species has been made, and it was included in the world's red list of Magnoliaceae and in the Red Book of Colombian phanerogams; in addition, a checklist of magnolias for the Catalogue of the Plants of Colombia has been compiled. The aim of this presentation is to show the high diversity of Magnolias in Colombia, and the main efforts being made to protect them.