UNIYALA KERALENSIS
- Uniyala keralensis is a newly identified shrub species from Kerala, India, belonging to the Asteraceae family. It grows between 1 to 3 meters in height and features light purple florets.
- This species is closely related to Uniyala comorinensis and Uniyala salviifolia but is distinguished by its consistently shrubby form, larger lanceolate leaves with serrulate margins, longer petioles, fewer lateral veins with distinct secondary and tertiary veins on the underside, many-flowered capitula with longer and narrowly lanceolate-falcate outer phyllaries and oblanceolate inner phyllaries, and smaller 3-4-ribbed achenes with sparse hairs near the apex.
- Flowering and fruiting occur from August to April. It is found in the western slopes of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve at altitudes of 700-1,400 meters.
- The population consists of around 5,000 plants in four subpopulations over 250 square kilometers. It is classified as Data Deficient under IUCN Red List Criteria (2024)
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is a comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. It uses a set of quantitative criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of species and categorize them into different threat levels. These criteria are designed to be applicable to all species (except microorganisms) across all regions of the world.
The IUCN Red List criteria are based on factors such as population size, rate of decline, geographic range, and fragmentation of populations.
Based on the above criteria, species are classified into the following categories:
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Extinct (EX): No remaining individuals exist.
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Extinct in the Wild (EW): Survives only in captivity or cultivation.
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Critically Endangered (CR): Extremely high risk of extinction.
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Endangered (EN): Very high risk of extinction.
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Vulnerable (VU): High risk of extinction.
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Near Threatened (NT): Close to qualifying for a threatened category.
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Least Concern (LC): Widespread and abundant.
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Data Deficient (DD): Insufficient data to assess risk.
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Not Evaluated (NE): Not yet assessed
Biodiversity:
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Flora: The reserve is home to a wide variety of plant species, including many endemic and medicinal plants. It is part of one of the world's richest centers of plant diversity.
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Fauna: The region supports diverse wildlife, including tigers, elephants, leopards, Nilgiri tahrs, and lion-tailed macaques. It is also a haven for birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
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Endemism: The Western Ghats, including ABR, is known for its high level of endemic species (species found nowhere else in the world)
UNESCO Recognition:
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Declared a Biosphere Reserve in 2001.
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Included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO in 2016
Biodiversity Hotspot:
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The Western Ghats, including ABR, is one of the eight hottest hotspots of biodiversity in the world.
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The reserve plays a critical role in conserving the unique flora and fauna of the region
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For Prelims: UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme, Eco-sensitive Zone (ESZ)
For Mains:
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