Nature Conservation 51: |13—70 (2023) Sea Big eo ae doi 10.2897/natureconservation 51.9447 GH Natt con https:/ / natureconservation. pen soft. net Launched to accelerate biodiversity conservation Important plant areas (IPAs) in the Fergana Valley (Central Asia): The Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa massif Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev', Farkhod I. Karimov', Hushbaht R. Hoshimov’, Rustam Gulomov’, Georgy A. Lazkov?, Chang-Gee Jang*, Hee-Young Gil?, Ju-Eun Jang°, Avazbek R. Batoshov’, Abdulla Iskandarov®’*, Hyeok Jae Choi® | National Herbarium of Uzbekistan, Institute of Botany of Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Durmon yuli str., 32, 100125, Tashkent, Uzbekistan 2 Namangan State University, Uychi str., 316, 160119, Namangan, Uzbekistan 3 Institute for Biology, National Academy of Sciences, Bishkek 720071, Kyrgyzstan 4 Department of Biology Education, Kongju National University Gongju 32588, Republic of Korea 5 Department of Forest Biodiversity and Herbarium, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon 11186, Republic of Korea 6 Khorezm Mamun Academy, Markaz-1, 220900, Khiva, Uzbekistan 7 Urgench State University, Kh.Alimdjan str, 14, 220100, Urgench, Uzbekistan 8 Department of Biology and Chemistry, Changwon National University, Changwon 51140, Republic of Korea Corresponding author: Hyeok Jae Choi (hjchoil975@changwon.ac.kr) Academic editor: A. Khapugin | Received 5 September 2022 | Accepted 7 December 2022 | Published 30 January 2023 https://z00bank. org/7ED77F85-94BA-443B-96AD-4784271D1645 Citation: Tojibaev KS, Karimov FI, Hoshimov HR, Gulomoy R, Lazkov GA, Jang C-G, Gil H-Y, Jang J-E, Batoshov AR, Iskandarov A, Choi HJ (2023) Important plant areas (IPAs) in the Fergana Valley (Central Asia): The Bozbu-Too- Ungortepa massif. Nature Conservation 51: 13-70. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.5 1.94477 Abstract This paper discusses identifying Important Plant Areas (IPAs) in one of the most densely populated re- gions of Central Asia—the Fergana valley. The recognition of IPA sites is an attempt to introduce new ways of conserving local plant diversity with a high concentration of endemic species in Central Asia, where conservation methods of the former Soviet Union still prevail. The research revealed the current state and geography of many rare species and enriched the flora of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan with several rare species. The second IPA is the transboundary territory of the Fergana valley, uniting the southern spurs of the Chatkal range and the Ungortepa-BozbuToo massif. We documented the distribution of 62 species in the IPAs under the sub-criteria of Plantlife International. Our study aimed at continuing studies on the IPAs in this region, addressing specific conservation challenges, such as conserving national endemics and endangered species that grow outside protected areas and GIS mapping of endemic species. Keywords Central Asia, endemic plants, Fergana Valley, important plant areas Copyright Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. 14 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) Introduction Biodiversity hotspots represent regions with high species richness and centers of en- demic species and are generally considered priority conservation regions. They provide a good natural laboratory for conducting studies testing the relationship between ex- tinction risk and evolutionary history (Fu et al. 2022). Asa rule, most biodiversity hot- spots are covered by a network of protected areas. Globally, protected areas have been increasing significantly over the last few decades. However, the existing global network covers less than 20% of areas important for biodiversity and ecosystem services (Max- well et al. 2022). It does not offer a sufficient contribution to the representativeness of these areas (Signorello et al. 2018). In many ways, representativeness is not achieved in poorly studied regions of the world. The Mountains of Central Asia are an important global biodiversity hotspot (Myers et al. 2000) but a botanically poorly-known part of Asia (Manafzadeh et al. 2016; Li et al. 2020). The situation is even worse for the individual regions because dozens of botanical-geographic regions do not have flora lists pertaining to 50-60 years ago. Poor representation is acommon problem for Central Asian species, with data often lacking (Wilson et al. 2021). However, many taxonomy, geobotany, and plant ecology studies were carried out (Tojibaev et al. 2020). One such region is the Fergana valley (FV)— the vast depression between the Tian-Shan and Pamir-Alay Mountain systems, mainly in eastern Uzbekistan and partly in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. In the previous stages of the study, we attempted to identify important plant areas (IPAs) in the FV, one of the most densely human-populated regions in Central Asia with a diverse array of endemic and endangered species. The badlands of the Chust-Pap adyrs (foothills) with a high concentration of endemic species of the western Tian-Shan were chosen as the first IPA of the FV. An overview of international references on IPA research in various countries was given in the first phase of IPA research (Tojibaev et al. 2022). Identifying species diversity and distribution is key to the protection and preven- tion of biodiversity loss at both global and local scales, because robust data are para- mount for well-informed decisions on policy, conservation, and species management (Dani Sanchez et al. 2021). IPAs consider species distribution and botanical richness and prioritize plants and habitats that are under threat, by identifying a network of key sites for their conservation (https://www.plantlife.org.uk/international). The guide- lines developed by Plantlife for Europe (Anderson 2002) have been tested and imple- mented in many countries over the past two decades (https://www.plantlifeipa.org/ about). Based on this, each new IPA study should comply with accepted standards and subsequently be included in the Plantlife IPA database (www. plantlifeipa.org/home). This work continues the identification of the IPA sites in FV, Central Asia. The sec- ond IPA site in the FV is located between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, in the southern part of the Chatkal Range. Two areas are clearly distinguished here. These are (a) the Bozbu-Too mountains (Kyrgyzstan) and (b) the lower reaches of the Mailisay river basin and the Ungortepa massif (Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan). Based on this, the second IPA site in FV has been named the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa massif. According to the adminis- Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley 15 trative zoning, the study area is located in the Chartak district of the Namangan region of Uzbekistan and the Aksy district of the Jalal-Abad region of Kyrgyzstan. Phytogeo- graphically, the IPA site belongs to the South Chatkal district of the Fergana region, Mountainous Central Asian province (Tojibaev et al. 2016, 2017). The core flora of the area, mainly consisting of Mediterranean and Iran-Turanian elements, is heavily influ- enced by widely distributed species. The South Chatkal district is the southern habitat for some Tian-Shan and western Tian-Shan species, including Tulipa bifloriformis Vved., Fritillaria sewerzowii Regel, Ferula tenuisecta Korovin, and Ferula prangifolia Korovin. The Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa massif and the adjacent Mailisay river basin of the Chatkal Range are poorly studied areas of the FV. The first detailed field studies were carried out in the middle of the last century (1949-1953) when the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan organized expeditions to study industrial reserves of rubber plants under the local name tau-sagyz. In 1949, dur- ing a route-geobotanical survey of the FV, large thickets of a rubber-bearing taxonomi- cally unknown representative of the genus Scorzonera L. were found (Nabiev 1954). In 1950, this species was described as Scorzonera uzbekistanica Czevr. & Bondarenko (Chevrenidi and Bondarenko 1950). A national approach to global conservation priorities In Central Asia countries, the realization of IPAs programs, including the identifica- tion process, data accumulation, and GIS mapping of species across IPA criteria, is in dynamic development (Tojibaev et al. 2022). In many ways, all countries in Cen- tral Asia inherited the Soviet (in some places modernized) system of nature conserva- tion practice. National biodiversity strategies and protected area management are very similar and the main approaches to the development of plants conservation strategies and their implementation remain. The first attempts to identify such IPA sites have been made (Dimeyeva and Vesselova 2015; Tojibaev et al. 2022). The results of the first phase of IPA research created a solid methodological basis. It is already becoming clear that the national IPA programs make it possible to use a pragmatic and proven approach to national plant conservation in local conservation practice. This program can complement other initiatives such as national biodiversity strategies and protected area management. Most importantly, regional data from Central Asia can be integrated into the global IPA network. Materials and methods Study area The FV is an intermountain trough covering an area of about 22 000 km’. In- cluding the surrounding mountains, it covers up to 80 000 km* and is located 16 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan (Tojibaev et al. 2018a). The length of the valley is about 250-300 km. The width of the FV reaches 130 km and nar- rows to 5—10 km in the west. In the east, the valley is bordered by the Fergana Range (Kyrgyzstan), by the Alay (Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan) and Turkestan rang- es (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) in the south, and the Chatkal (Kyr- gyzstan and Uzbekistan) and Kurama ranges (Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) in the north. Quaternary deposits (pebble, crushed stone, sand, loam, sandy loam, and clay) compose the plains and fill intermontane, post-, and inter-adyr depressions. The surface of the FV, especially in its central part, is flat and represents the ancient terraces of the Syr Darya River (up to four terraces) and numerous alluvial cones (Naumenko and Zubov 2021). The botanical significance of Central Asia in terms of global plant diversity and the use of this phrase concerning a specific geographical area were discussed in a previous publication (Tojibaev et al. 2022). The study area is north of the Syr Darya River on the southern slopes of Chatkal Range. Tashkumyr town (Kyrgyzstan) is the eastern, and Kerben town (Kyrgyzstan) the western border. The southern border runs along the meridian of Yangikurgan and Uchkurgan towns (Uzbekistan), and further north along Avletim (Kyrgyzstan). The IPA site was located between 41°25'9.44"N, 71°41'31.76"E and 41°27'23.85"N, 72°10'53.88"E, with an altitude range from 550 to 2860 m above sea level. ‘The site is 48—56 km long and 30—42 km wide (Fig. 1). z 71,709895 71,823888 71,937881 72,051874 72,165867 41,608574 41,608574 41,462340 Chuy-Region 41,316106 41,316106 Jalal-Abad Region MW ashkent ; | Naryn Region Tashkent Region ‘ \ at ; NamanganRepgion 41,169872 Andijan Region Elevation — 1000 — 2000 Bisel, Khujand7* Fergana Region 600 —1200— 2200 ‘9 2 a 700 — 1400 — 2400 |2 A Fd 5 10 20 km Fd Pergana Regio / i Nie i & 800 — 1600— 2600 = Batken Région i J ee Aanjiang + 900 — 1800 — 2860 * 71,709895 71,823888 71,937881 72,051874 72,165867 Study area s—Fergana valley Figure I. Study area. The Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa massif. Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley 17 Climate and geomorphology The climate of the IPA site and its surroundings is dry and warm. As no precise climatic data are available for this IPA site, extrapolations have been made based upon the average data for Namangan weather stations and using the environmental lapse rate (6 °C/1000 m). The annual rainfall in the lower zone (500—800 m) varies from 170—280 mm, and from 350-400 mm in the upper zone (1200-1500 m). The average temperature is 2—5 °C in January, and 27-28 °C and 7—10 °C in the upper part in July. The average an- nual temperature is 13.2 °C, and the lowest is 4 °C. The absolute minimum fluctuates around -20 °C. Rainfall occurs in spring and autumn-winter. There are two contrasting periods: spring (until the end of May) with green vegetation and summer when most of the vegetation burns out and the vegetation is a shade of yellow (Nabiev 1954). The study area occupies two lower geomorphological stages—the foothills and the low mountains of South Chatkal. The variegated geological structure of the surface and the intense runoff characteristic of the region, causing erosion of slopes, have a significant effect on soil formation and the soil cover structure. For this reason, the predominant part of the site is devoid of a characteristic soil cover due to the vigorous erosion of the surface. This is one of the main factors affecting the formation of vegeta- tion cover (Nabiev 1954). Data collection In the Uzbekistan part, the first field studies to identify the IPA were in 2013-2014 by Tojibaev’s team but were stopped due to lack of funding. In Kyrgyzstan, the first field studies of the authors (G.A. Lazkov) began in the 1990s. However, targeted research under the IPA program was carried out only in 2020—2022. From the IPA surveys both in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Lazkov’s and Tojibaev's team field records, literature data from Nabiev (1954), Vernik and Rakhimova (1982), and herbarium collections data (mainly in TASH, FRU, LE, MW; Thiers 2022), a total of 1275 vascular plant species have been recorded in the IPA site. Taxonomy Taxonomic identification was based on Flora of Uzbekistan (1941-1963), Flora of Kyrgyzstan (1952-1965), Conspectus Florae Asiae Media (1969-1993), a taxonomic revision of some families of the flora of Kyrgyzstan (Pimenov and Kljuykov 2002; Lazkov 2006a), the newly published first four volumes of the new Flora of Uzbekistan (Sennikov 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022), the recently published data on Apiaceae (To- jibaev et al. 2020), Tulipa (Tojibaev and Beshko 2014), and the checklist of the Flora of Tian-Shan mountains (Tojibaev et al. 2020). The nomenclature of each taxon fol- lowed Plants of the World Online (POWO) http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org), and International Plant Name Index (IPNI) www.ipni.org). 18 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) Site selection Species and habitats were selected according to the proposed IPA criteria. The IPA site selection methodology fits the European IPA criteria set out in the IPA site selec- tion manual and their modifications published in authoritative publications (Anderson 2002; Blasi et al. 2011; Darbyshire et al. 2017), the main of which are: 1. The IPA site satisfies either criterion A, B, C, or any combination of these. 2. Previously tested approaches in the conditions of mountainous Central Asia were applied, which makes it possible to ensure the creation of a regional network. 3. ‘The IPA site contains those conditions necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the species or intraspecific taxa. Also, the selected IPA site contains multiple qualifying species to focus conservation action at the national and trans- boundary levels. We used only selected vascular plants and habitats and existing data on their distri- bution on a national and regional scale. This is because, as in Kyrgyzstan, there is cur- rently no classification of habitats, especially critical habitats, in Uzbekistan. Moreover, the studied area is typical for the south of mountainous Central Asia. The boundaries of the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa IPA site are broadly in line with the regional assessment of KBAs (Key Biodiversity Areas) in Central Asia (CEPF 2017). Biodiversity hotspots N°11 (Karatag Mountains), N°12 (Ungortepa), and N°05 of the contours (Aflatun-Padshaata) from the final report “Biodiversity hot- spots in the mountainous region of Central Asia” are included in the Bozbu-Too- Ungortepa IPA. Existing conservation threats were estimated based on field observations and analy- sis of the available literature data (Davletkeldiev 2006; Khassanov 2019; Eastwood et al. 2009). Results Criterion A (threatened species) According to the generally accepted formulation, IPA sites with criterion A should hold significant populations of one or more species of global or regional conserva- tion concern (Anderson 2002). After modifying IPA methodology as proposed by the authors in the previous stages of the IPA research in Central Asia (Tojibaev et al. 2022), 62 vascular plant species were recognized as belonging to criterion A. Follow- ing the national requirements, we also listed national and regional species of interest (Table 1). Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley ey Table I. The list of selected species including the criterion A of the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa massif with IPA sub-criteria, [UCN Conservation status, general distribution and preserved herbaria. No Accepted species name IPA Conservation status (IUCN) Red Data Preserved Herbaria category EOOkm? AOOkm? Category Book 1 Malus sieversii (Ledeb.) M.Roem. Ai Not evaluated VU KG TASH, FRU, TAD, A2acde MW, AA 2 Acanthophyllum pungens (Bunge) Boiss. Aii 1,685,141.644 248 LC+EN UZ TASH, FRU, TAD, MW, AA 3 Allium dodecadontum Vved. Aii 19,569.468 92 VU+EN KG TASH, FRU 4 Allium viridiflorum Pobed. Aii 133.707 16 EN UZ TASH, FRU 5 Anthochlamys tianschanica Ijin ex Aellen Aii 21,576.049 136 NT+EN UZ TASH, FRU, MW 6 Crataegus knorringiana Pojark. Aii 19,859.660 52 EN KG TASH, FRU 7 Delphinium knorringianum B.Fedtsch. Aii 23,231.587 24 NT+EN KG, UZ TASH, FRU 8 Dorema microcarpum Korovin Aii 21,800.193 46 NT+EN KG,UZ = TASH, FRU, MW 9 = Eminium regelti Vved. Aii 95,605.497 80 LC+EN KG TASH, FRU, TAD, MW, AA 10 Gamanthus ferganicus Win Aii 15,513.182 136 VU+EN UZ TASH, FRU, MW 11 Tris kolpakowskiana Regel Aii 126,385.582 96 LC+EN KG TASH, FRU, MW, AA 12 Hedlundia persica (Hedl.) Mezhenskyj Aii 851,107.371 144 LC+EN KG TASH, FRU, TAD, MW, AA 13. Lamyropappus schakaptaricus (B. Fedtsch.) Aii 4,166.438 108 EN KG TASH, FRU, MW Knorring & Tamamsch. 14 Oreosalsola drobovii (Botsch.) Akhani Ait 34,390.040 80 NT+EN TJ,UZ TASH, FRU, TAD, MW, AA, 15 Seseli eryngivides (Korovin) Pimenov et Aii 1,190.623 20 EN KG FRU, MW V.N.Tikhom. 16 Tulipa ferganica Vved Aii 36,709.666 156 NT+EN UZ TASH, FRU, MW 17 Allium tatyanae F.O.Khass. & EKarimov Aiii 13,360 8 CR - TASH 18 Astragalus allotricholobus Nabiev Aiii 316,899 24 EN - TASH, FRU, MW 19 Corydalis bosbutovénsis Lazkov Aiii 3,040 8 CR - TASH, FRU 20 Gagea spelaea Levichev et Lazkov Aiii 3,786 8 CR - FRU 21 Tris austrotschatkalica Tojibaev, F. Karim. Aiii 0 8 CR - TASH et Turgunov 22 Acantholimon nabievii Lincz. Aiii 2039723 48 EN - TASH, FRU, MW 23 Allium arkitense R.M. Fritsch Aiii 1 124,205 20 EN - TASH, FRU 24 Allium gracillimum Vved Aiii 9 463,085 28 VU+EN - TASH, FRU, TAD MW 25 Allium haneltii RO. Khass. & R.M. Fritsch —Aiii 865,233 36 EN - TASH 26 Allium oreoscordum Vved. Aiii 19 763,085 36 VU+EN - TASH, FRU, MW 27 Allium pseudopskemense ined. Aiii 2523 16 EN - FRU 28 Astragalus bosbutooénsis Nikitina et Sudn. Aiii 356,940 20 EN - TASH, FRU 29 Astragalus melanocomus Popov Aiii 827,190 12 EN - LE, MW 30 Astragalus pseudodianthus Nabiev Aiii 1169,459 32 EN - TASH, FRU 31 Astragalus spryginii Popov Aiii 4442,536 20 EN - TASH, FRU, MW 32 Cousinia knorringiae Bornmuller Aiii 7753616 32 EN - TASH, FRU 33 Cousinia krauseana Regel & Schmalh. Aiii 37 072,599 36 NT+EN - TASH, FRU, MW 34 Echinops knorringianus Ijin Aiii 8,933.847 40 VU+EN - TASH, FRU, MW 35 Eremurus czatkalicus Lazkov Aiii 3,153,563 32 EN - TASH, FRU, MW 36 Ferula incisoserrata Pimenov et J. Baranova Aili 749,070 16 EN 7 TASH, FRU, MW 37 Fritillaria rugillosa Naumenko & Zubov Aiii 4,885,728 32 EN - TASH, FRU 38 Hedysarum gypsaceum Korotkova Aiii 1,956.487 28 EN - TASH, FRU, MW 39 Hedysarum turkestanicum Regel et Schmalh. __Aiii 15 611,335 32 VU+EN - TASH, FRU, MW 40 Hyalolaena intermedia Pimenov & Kljuykov _ Aiii 2,969,10 24 EN = TASH, FRU 41 Iris narynensis O. Fedtsch. Aiii 2 735,900 28 EN - TASH, FRU, MW 42 Limonium ferganense Ukonn.-Gal. Aiii 5 203,680 12 VU+EN - TASH, FRU, MW 43 Oxytropis gymnogyne Bunge Aiii 14,138.749 120 VU+EN - TASH, FRU, TAD MW 20 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) No Accepted species name IPA Conservation status (IUCN) Red Data Preserved Herbaria category EOOkm? AOOkm? Category Book 44 Phlomoides adylovii Lazkov Aiii 1,810.229 24 EN - FRU 45 Phlomoides kirghisorum Adylov, Kamelin Aiii 2,605.687 40 EN - TASH, FRU & Makhm. 46 Phlomoides alaica (Popov) Adylov, Aiii 43,650.470 24 NT - TASH, FRU, MW Kamelin & Makhm. 47 Phlomoides urodonta (Popov) Adylov et al. Aiii 176.445 32 EN - TASH, FRU 48 Scutellaria xanthosiphon Juz. Aiii 1,810,209 24 EN = FRU, MW 49 Silene fetissovii Lazkov Aiii 2948,074 28 EN - FRU, MW 50 Seseli giganteum Lipsky Aiii 893.356 20 EN - LE, MW, AA, TASH, FRU, TAD 51. Seseli unicaule (Korovin) Pimenov Aiii 16 472,343 32 VU+EN 7 LE, TASH, FRU, WILR, MW 52 Tanacetopsis ferganensis (Kovalevsk.) Aiii 5,310.020 24 VU+EN - FRU, MW Kovalevsk. 53 Allium minutum Vved. Aiv 10,420.306 20 VU+EN TJ LE, TASH, FRU, TAD 54 Astragalus syreitschikovii Pavlov Aiv 95,139.963 68 LC+EN - MW, AA, TASH, FRU 55 Fritillaria sewerzowii Regel Aiv 39,522.829 116 NT+EN - TASH, FRU, AA, MW 56 Jurinea winkleri l\jin Aiv 6,661.322 108 VU+EN a TASH, MW 57 Leibnitzia knorringiana (B. Fedtsch.) Pobed. — Aiv 8,443.694 40 VU+EN = FRU, MW 58 Lagochilus knorringianus var. drobovii Aiv 32,447.798 60 NT+EN - TASH, FRU, AA, MW (Kamelin & Tzukerv.) Lazkov 59 Polycnemum perenne Litv. Aiv 32,249.538 152 NT+EN - TASH, FRU, AA, MW 60 Pseudosedum ferganense Boriss. Aiv 27,595.830 100 NT+EN - LE, MW, TASH, FRU 61 Tulipa bifloriformis Vved. Aiv 15,621.720 164 VU+EN aly TASH, FRU, MW, TAD 62 Takhtajaniantha tau-saghyz (Lipsch. & Aiv 28,713.924 28 NT+EN - TASH, FRU, AA, MW G.G.Bosse) Zaika, Sukhor. & N.Kilian. Category Ai This category includes globally threatened species. In the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa IPA site, only one species was described as category Ai. Malus sieversii (Ledeb.) M.Roem., Fam. Nat. Syn. Monogr. 3: 216 (1847) = Malus kirghisorum Al.Fed. & Fed., Trudy Yuzhno-Kirgizsk. Eksped. 1: 220 (1949). Note. Malus sieversii is grown and consumed worldwide, and there is increasing inter- est in the crop’s evolutionary history and in variety improvement for traits such as fruit characteristics, disease resistance, and stress tolerance (Gross et al. 2012). The species is still found in the fragmented fruit and nut forests of Central Asia and is threatened by habitat degradation, mainly from agricultural development and overgrazing (East- wood et al. 2009). In Central Asia, this species is considered vulnerable, meaning it is threatened with extinction in the wild according to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria (IUCN 2021). Threats include loss and degradation of habitat because of agri- cultural expansion and development, genetic erosion (grafting of commercial varieties and hybridization), and over-grazing. Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley 21 Existing Conservation Threats. Over-collection for firewood. General distribution. Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, ‘Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Xinjiang. Distribution in FV. All mountain ranges of the FV. Category Az Fifteen species were described in category Aii. All species listed in sub-criterion Aii are included as threatened species in the Red Data Books of Kyrgyzstan (Davletkeldiev 2006) and Uzbekistan (Khassanov 2019). Our definition of sub-criterion Azi agrees with the formulation by Darbyshire et al. (2017), according to which the site must consist of species of IUCN Regional Red List or another regionally approved peer-reviewed threat list. Acanthophyllum pungens (Bunge) Boiss., Fl. Orient. 1: 561 (1867) Figs 2A, 3A = Acanthophyllum albidum Schischk., V.L. Komarov (ed.), Fl. URSS 6: 893 (1936). Note. This polymorphic species is widespread in Central Asia (Lazkov 2006a). Sev- eral species were described based on variations of this species, which were later recognized as synonyms of A. pungens (Bondarenko 1972; Lazkov 2006a; Lazkov and Sultanova 2014). These “small species” which were later recognized as syno- nyms, including A. albidum Schischk., are of conservation interest. The last taxa were described by Schischkin (1936) from Central FV (Margelan, Kosch-Karchi). These plants are distinguished by white tepals and small inflorescences (up to 15 mm) and, as a rare endemic of FV, were listed in the Red Data Book of Uzbekistan (Khassanov 2019). Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation. General distribution. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, North Caucasus, Tajik- istan, Iranscaucasus, Uzbekistan, Xinjiang. Distribution in FV. Foothills and lower mountains of FV. Allium dodecadontum Vved. in Opred. Rast. Sred. Azii 2: 316 (1971) Figs 2B, 3B Note. The species is a member of a small cluster (Alay-Fergana Geographical clade sect. Acmopetala sensu Fritsch et al. 2010) and comprises five species occurring in western Tian-Shan: partly in Kyrgyzstan, partly in Uzbekistan (Fritsch et al. 2010; Fritsch and Khassanov 2008). Together with A. schachimardanicum Vved. (endemic of the middle and upper belts of the Alay Range), A. dodecadontum is rec- 22 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) Figure 2. The wild habitat of some plants in FV A Acanthophyllum pungens B Allium dodecadontum C Allium viridiflorum D Lamyropappus schakaptaricus E Delphinium knorringianum F Iris kolpakowskiana G Seseli eryngioides H Hedlundia persica \ Tulipa ferganica ) Eminium regelii. ognized as the most basal species of the cluster and is considered strictly endemic to Chatkal Range. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Mid-mountain belt of the Chatkal Range. Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley 23 rg A, 194 1G] ae = 2 4 Te i fy 1H Figure 3. Distribution map of the species of sub-criterion Aii, based on GeoCAT A Acanthophyllum pungens B Allium dodecadontum C Allium viridiflorum D Anthochlamys tjanschanica E Crataegus knorringiana F Dorema microcarpum G Delphinium knorringianum H Eminium regelii. Allium viridiflorum Pobed. in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 11: 64 (1949) Figs 23 Note. ‘This species is a representative of the bi-type Allium ser. Verticillata Tzag., which have whorled leaves (Fritsch 2016). A. viridiflorum differs from A. verticillatum Regel, the type species of the section, by the greenish color of tepals that are nine times longer than the pedicels, short stamens, ecological preference, and geographical distribution (Tojibaev et al. 2014b). A. viridiflorum was previously considered a local endemic of Arkit, Chatkal range, Kyrgyzstan (Lazkov and Sultanova 2014). A new species popula- tion was found in the Uzbekistan part of this IPA site (Tojibaev et al. 2014b). Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Low and mid-mountain belt of the Chatkal Range. 24 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) Anthochlamys tjanschanica Ijin ex Aellen in Verh. Naturf. Ges. Basel 61: 170 (1950) Fig. 3D Note. The genus Anthochlamys comprises five species (POWO, 2022) and is distrib- uted in the Iran-Turanian floristic region (Sukhorukov and Konstantinova 2012). Ex- cept for A. tjanschanica, almost all the taxa can be found in Iran and western Afghani- stan, which differs from other species by its distribution in the Tian-Shan Mountains (Sidorenko et al. 1968; Pratov 1972a). The species belongs to the rare endemic species of FV with a very narrow distri- bution range. It inhabits gravelly and loessal slopes of foothills and does not grow in protected areas (Tojibaev et al. 2022). Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, dry-farming, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Foothills of FV. Crataegus knorringiana Pojark. in Ref. Nauchno-Issl. Rabot, Otdelenie Biol. Nauk 1945: 7 (1947) Fig. 3E Note. FV, the Chatkal Range, and the surrounding area, in particular, are impor- tant areas in the conservation of wild species of hawthorns (Pachomova 1976). Spe- cies known to be widely distributed throughout Central Asia, including C. songorica C.Koch., C. turkestanica Pojark., and C. pontica C.Koch, and some endemic species with narrow distribution both grow in these areas. The distribution of narrow-range species is bounded by the Chatkal river basin and the adjacent mountain ranges of the FV. This group includes C. rematilobata (Chatkal, Turkestan and Alay ranges), C. tianschanica Pojark. (Chatkal Range), C. ferganensis Pojark. (Chatkal, Fergana, Alay ranges), and C. knorringiana with distribution in the Chatkal and Alay ranges (Pacho- mova 1976). The last species were recorded in Bozbu-Too during the IPA surveys. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, human disturbance, over-grazing, and cutting threaten the species (Eastwood et al. 2009). General distribution. Kyrgyzstan. Distribution in FV. Mid-mountain belt of Chatkal and Alay ranges. Delphinium knorringianum B.Fedtsch. in J. Roy. Hort. Soc. 61: 196 (1936) Figs 2E, 3G Note. This rare ornamental plant is a relic species with a disjunctive area and is en- demic to FV, where it was found on the northern slopes of the Atoynok Mountain Range and in the northern spurs of Turkestan and Alay ranges. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley ae Distribution in FV. Mid-mountain belt of the Atoynok Mountain Range and in the northern spurs of the Turkestan and Alay ranges. Dorema microcarpum Korovin in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Inst. Bot. Zool. Akad. Nauk Uzbeksk. S.S.R. 8: 6 (1947) Fig v3F Note. As mentioned by M.G. Pimenov (1988), it is difficult not to use the epi- thet “marvelous” for the Iran-Turanian genus Dorema D.Don because, compared to other genera of the Umbeliferae family, it has simple umbel located along the axis of the common inflorescence. ‘This is the most striking feature of the genus Dorema, truly unique within the Umbelliferae. The hotspot of the genus is in the Kopet Dag Range (Turkmenistan and Iran) and the surrounding lowlands and plains (Pimenov 1983a, 1988). Dorema microcarpum is the type species of the sect. Microcarpa Pimenoy, and is considered the most eastern species of the genus. The mountain surrounding FV limits the distributed area (Pimenov 1988). The species is on the verge of extinction, caused mainly by habitat fragmentation. It is included in the Red Data Books of Kyrgyzstan (Davletkeldiev 2006) and Uzbekistan (Khassanov 2019). Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, dry-farming, overgrazing. General distribution. Fergana, South Chatkal, Kurama, and Alay ranges (Kyr- gyzstan, Uzbekistan). Distribution in FV. Foothills of FV. Eminium regelii Vved. in Schreder (ed.), Fl. Uzbekistan. 1: 540 (1941) Figs 2J, 3H Note. ‘The species is listed as a rare endangered species in the Red Data Book of Kyr- gyzstan (Davletkeldiev 2006) and is sporadically distributed in western Tian-Shan and northern Pamir-Alay (Pazij 1972). In the IPA site, the species occurs as single individu- als in silty soil and loess slopes in piedmonts and low-montane zones. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, dry-farming, overgrazing in early spring. General distribution. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, ‘Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Foothills of FV. Gamanthus ferganicus Iljin in Trudy Bot. Inst. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R., Ser. 1, Fl. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 2: 131 (1936) Fig. 4A = Halimocnemis ferganica (Ijin) Akhani, Int. J. Pl. Sci. 168: 948 (2007). 26 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) Note. The genus Gamanthus Bunge is predominantly a desert and foothill genus, grow- ing on sands and variegated outcrops. The genus is represented by five species (POWO 2022), mainly in Central Asia, with a disjunction into the Caucasus and Iran and the environs (Gamanthus pilosus (Pall.) Bunge). Of these, two species, G. ferganicus Ijin and G. leucophyllus Botsch., are endemic to Mountainous Central Asia. The first spe- cies is bound to the FV, occurring in saline crushed stone slopes of the foothills (Pratov 1972b). It differs from other species of the genus by having opposite leaves covered throughout with crisp, closely appressed hairs. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Endemic; low mountains of Chatkal Range (Ungortepa). Tris kolpakowskiana Regel in Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 5: 263 (1877) Figs 2F, 4B = lridodictyum kolpakowskianum (Regel) Rodion., Rod Iris: 202 (1961). Note. This is an ornamental and early flowering species with a reducing area. The dis- tribution area includes piedmont plains, foothills, and low mountains (up to 1500 m) in western and northern Tian-Shan. The species populates silty-soil, loess, and stony slopes. Such landscapes predominate in FV and are places of intensive human activ- ity. For this reason, the number of individuals is limited and declining. The species is included in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan (Davletkeldiev 2006). Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, dry-farming, overgrazing in early spring. General distribution. Western and northern Tian-Shan (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan). Distribution in FV. Foothills of FV. Hedlundia persica (Hedl.) Mezhenskyj, NULESU Coll. Fruit Ornament. PIL: 32 (2018) Figs 2H, 4C = Sorbus persica Hedl., Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl., n.s., 35(1): 70 (1901). = Pyrus persica (Hedl.) M.EFay & Christenh., Global Fl. 4: 115 (2018). Note. Although the species is rare and red-listed in Kyrgyzstan (Davletkeldiev 2006) and has a restricted distribution in Central Asia, Iran, Caucasus and Afghanistan, there are no immediate threats. Most of the Central Asian populations are in protected areas (Chatkal, Besh-Aral, Sary-Chelek, and Aksu-Djabagli reserves). Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley 2) Existing Conservation Threats. Over-collection for firewood. General distribution. Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmen- istan, Uzbekistan Distribution in FV. Mid-mountain belt of Chatkal, Fergana, Alay and Turkestan ranges. m POs ae a [ ws} Pi: Camay a | | 4 ee ee f it oe Figure 7. The wild habitat of some plants in FV A Phlomoides adylovii B Phlomoides kirghisorum C Phlomoides urodonta D Seseli giganteum E Scutellaria xanthosiphon F Phlomoides alaica G Silene fetissovii H Zanacetopsis ferganensis. Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley 45 Figure 8. Distribution map of the species of sub-criterion Aiii, based on GeoCAT A Allium tatyanae B Astragalus allotricholobus C Corydalis bosbutooénsis D Gagea spelaea E Iris austrotschatkalica F Acantholimon nabievii G Allium arkitense H Allium gracillimum | Allium haneltii J Allium oreoscordum K Allium pseudopskemense L Astragalus bosbutooénsis. 46 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) Figure 9. Distribution map of the species of sub-criterion Aiii, based on GeoCAT A Astragalus melanocomus B Astragalus pseudodianthus © Astragalus spryginii D Cousinia knorringiae E Cousinia krauseana F Echinops knorringianus G Eremurus czatkalicus WH Ferula incisoserrata | Fritillaria rugillosa J) Hedysarum gypsaceum K Hedysarum turkestanicum L Hyalolaena intermedia. Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley 47 pei pe eps ae (eS sili Figure 10. Distribution map of the species of sub-criterion Aiii, based on GeoCAT A Iris narynensis B Limonium ferganense C Oxytropis gymnogyne D Phlomoides adylovii E Phlomoides kirghisorum F Phlomoides alaica G Phlomoides urodonta H Scutellaria xanthosiphon \ Silene fetissovii J Seseli giganteum K Seseli unicaule L Tanacetopsis ferganensis. 48 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) Phlomoides kirghisorum Adylov, Kamelin & Makhm. in Opred. Rast. Sred. Azii 9: 99 (1987) Figs 7B, 10E Note. Originally, the species was described as Eremostachys ferganensis Ubuk. based on specimens collected from the Bozbu-Too Mountains (Ubukeeva 1960). Ady- lov and Makhmedov (1987) reported this species in Kyrgyzstan in the foothills and low mountains of Alay, Chatkal, and Fergana ranges. Current knowledge of the distribution area of this species shows that it is limited by FV (Lazkov and Sultanova 2014). Most of the population is located on the border between Kyr- gyzstan and Uzbekistan. During field surveys in 2020-2021, several plants belong- ing to this species were collected in the Uzbekistan part of the IPA site (Arbagish and surrounds). Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Foothills of Chatkal Range. Phlomoides alaica (Knorring) Adylov, Kamelin & Makhm. in Opred. Rast. Sred. Azii 9: 107 (1987) Figs 7F, 10F = Phlomis alaica Knorring in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 15: 338 (1953). = Phlomis knorringiana Popov in V.L.Komaroy, Fl. URSS 21: 648 (1954). = Phlomoides knorringiana (Popov) Adylov, Kamelin & Makhm. in Opred. Rast. Sred. Azii 9: 107 (1987). Note. The type specimens described as Phlomis knorringiana Popov differ from Phlomis alaica Knorring (currently Phlomoides alaica) in having short stellate (not stellate with longer middle rays) hairs on the bracts and the calyx (Lazkov 2011). Because plants with similar morphological characteristics do not have separate geo- graphical distribution areas and plants with intermediate forms were observed, Laz- kov (2011, 2016) combined the two species while maintaining the priority of the epithet “alaica”. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Foothills of Alay and Fergana ranges, Ak-Shyyrak, At-Oynok, Bozbu-Too, Chaar-Tash, and Moldo-Too Mts. Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley 49 Phlomoides urodonta (Popov) Adylov, Kamelin & Makhm. in Opred. Rast. Sred. Azii 9: 106 (1987) Figs 7C, 10G Note. According to Lazkov, P urodonta is the type species of the monotypic series Urodontae Lazkov, characterized by white or whitish corolla and narrowly triangular calyx teeth on the sides without denticles (Lazkov 2011). The conservation value of the species is increasing due to the small distribution area. The species is endemic to southern Chatkal in Kyrgyzstan. Previously, Lazkov (2011) reported four herbarium specimens (three of them were collected on the territory of the Sary-Chelek reserve). Later, another population was recorded by him in the study area. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan. Distribution in FV. Low mountains of Chatkal Range. Scutellaria xanthosiphon Juz. in Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 14: 367 (1951) Figs 7E, 10H Note. Described from the Kugart river basin in the Fergana range, Kyrgyzstan. Alay and Fergana ranges in Kyrgyzstan cover the current distribution area of this species (Abdul- laeva 1987). These ranges surround the FV from the northeast and south (south-east). Lazkov and Sultanova (2014) support these data and in the “Cadastre” for this species indicate near Fergana regions of Kyrgyzstan, which includes the southern slopes of the Chatkal and Fergana ranges and the northern slopes of the Alay and Turkestan ranges. Field studies in 2020-2021 showed the presence of populations of the species located in the areas between the Fergana and Alay ranges, which fall in the Bozbu-Too Mountains. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan. Distribution in FV. Middle mountain and subalpine belts of Chatkal, Fergana, and Alay ridges. Silene fetissovii Lazkov in Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 29: 66 (1993) Figs 7G, 101 Note. Thus far, the species is known from only a few localities in stony-rocky outcrops of the belt of forests and bushes of eastern Fergana. It was described by Lazkov (1993) in the territories adjacent to the IPA site (Chatkal Range, Padsha-Ata River Basin). Some paratype specimens were collected by Aydarova and Ubukeev from Bozbu-Too 50 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) in 1977 (kept in FRU). Based on current literature data and field observations from 2010-2020, the species is endemic to the Chatkal and Fergana ranges within the FV. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan. Distribution in FV. Middle mountain belt of Chatkal and Fergana ranges. The Flora of Kyrgyzstan is recognized as rich in species of the genus Sese/i L. (Pimenov and Kljuykov 2002; Lazkov and Sultanova 2014). Out of 46 species known throughout Central Asia (Pimenov 1983b), 21 (Pimenov and Kljuykov 2002) or 23 (Lazkov and Sultanova 2014) species of the genus were recorded in the flora of Kyr- gyzstan, and eight species are endemics (Pimenov and Kljuykov 2002). Most endemic Seseli species are distinguished by a small distribution area or are known from the type locality (S. luteolum Pimenov, S. kashgaricum Pimenov, Kljuykov). Some of the na- tional endemics are distributed in eastern Fergana bordering Uzbekistan. Field surveys from 2010-2021 in Uzbekistan identified two Seseli species before being registered as national endemics of Kyrgyzstan (Lazkov and Umralina 2015). Seseli giganteum Lipsky in Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 23: 140 (1904) Figs 7D, 10J Note. The species belongs to the bi-type sect. Microseseli Pimenov (Pimenov 1978). ‘The second species is S. turbinatum Korovin, which differs in life form (polycarpic), morphology (root system, fruit, corolla color, and branching type), and geography (Pamir-Alay, Nurata). S. giganteum is rare and endemic to the southern Chatkal. It was described from the valley of the Khoja-Ata river basin (Pimenov 1974). The species is known from a few localities outside the locus classicus, but none goes beyond the southern Chatkal (basins of the Padsha-Ata and Kasan-say rivers). According to all published data, the species is considered a strict endemic to Kyrgyzstan (Pimenov 1974, 1978; Lazkov and Sultanova 2014; Lazkov and Umralina 2015). The species was recorded near the vicinity of Nanay village in the Uzbekistan part of FV. This is close to the Ungortepa massive of the IPA site (by Tojibaev K.Sh., Turgi- nov O.T.). The species grows on the loessal slopes of open shrublands. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan. Distribution in FV. Middle mountain belt of Chatkal Range. Seseli unicaule (Korovin) Pimenov in Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 11: 245 (1975) Figs 6S, 10K Note. In contrast to the previous species, S. unicaule (sect. Sclerrhiza Popov & Sdob- nina, subsect. Lehmanniana Pimenov) has a wider distribution area and, accordingly, is represented by a large number of herbarium specimens kept at TASH, LE, FRU, WILR, and MW. The geography of the species was revised in detail by M.G. Pimenov Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley 51 (Pimenov 1974, 1978, 1983b). The distribution area is limited to the drier foothills of eastern Fergana. The main habitats are in the Tian-Shan part of the valley, and a small disjunction is located in the eastern part of the Alay range (Pimenov 1983b). During the recent field investigation of plant diversity in the Uzbekistan part of the IPA site specimens of S. unicaule were collected (https://www.plantarium.ru) from the neighborhood of Airbagsh village. Accurate investigations of all the surrounding areas did not give positive results. Based on field studies in 2019-2021, it can be concluded that the Uzbekistan populations are represented only in the foothills of Arbagish. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan. Distribution in FV. Middle mountain belt of Chatkal Range. Tanacetopsis ferganensis (Kovalevsk.) Kovalevsk. in Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 9: 270 (1972) Figs 7H, 10L Note. ‘This species is endemic to eastern Fergana and is known from several localities in the eastern part of the Chatkal, Atoynak, and Fergana ranges (Kamelin and Kova- levskaya 1993). It grows between rocks on the stony slopes of the middle and upper mountains. Only one locality is known in the study area; the gorge of the Archaly-Sai river, which is part of the Bozbu-Too. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan. Distribution in FV. Middle and high mountain belts of Chatkal and Fergana ranges. Category Azv Ten species were included in category Aizu. As noted by Darbyshire et al. (2017) for the large majority of plant species belong- ing to IPA sub-criteria Azv there are no formal global conservation status assessments in Central Asia. This is also an actuality because many cases focus on country-level distri- butions. Poor representation is a common problem for Central Asian species (Wilson et al. 2021), and international evaluation is rare due to the lack of close cooperation between neighboring countries. Allium minutum Wved. in Byull. Sredne-Aziatsk. Gosud. Univ. 19: 124 (1934) Figs 11A, 12A Note. During field observations in the vicinity of the Arbagish village in 2014 and later in 2021, a white-flowered Allium species was collected for the first time from the foot- hills of the Chatkal range in Uzbekistan. The species grew on the Artemisia steppe be- tween 1100 and 1200 m. Detailed studies revealed that they did not match any Allium 52 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) Figure I1. The wild habitat of some plants in FV A Allium minutum B Astragalus syreitschikovii C Fritillaria sewerzowii D Jurinea winkleri E Lagochilus knorringianus vat. drobovii F Polycnemum perenne G Pseudosedum ferganense 'H Tulipa bifloriformis \ Leibnitzia knorringiana \ Takhtajaniantha tau-saghyz. Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley 53 species reported from the foothills or low mountain belt of the Chatkal range. After examining all Ad//ium species from FV, the morphological characters of these specimens were identical to those of Allium minutum Vved., which was previously recorded only in the Alay and Trans-Alay ranges, and in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (Vvedenskyi 1971; Lazkov and Sultanova 2014). Therefore, A. minutum is here reported as a new record for the flora of Uzbekistan and the Chatkal range in particular. According to Vvedenskyi (1971) and Khassanov and Esankulov (2015), A. minutum is growing on gravelly and variegated outcrops of the upper belt of moun- tains. Examination of all published data (Vvedensky 1971; Khassanov 2000; Khassa- nov and Esankulov 2015) and herbarium specimens kept in Tashkent (TASH) showed the absence of data outside the Alay and Trans-Alay ranges. ‘There is a high probability that the plants from southern Chatkal belong to a new species of the Allium genus. However, the plants from the highlands of the Alay Range and the low mountains of Chatkal do not differ morphologically. Therefore, the lack of data, especially regarding the distribution in the intermediate regions between Chatkal and Alay ranges, necessitated us to accept southern Chatkal plants as A. minutum. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Middle and high mountain belts of Chatkal and Fergana ridges. Astragalus syreitschikovii Pavlov in Byull. Moskovsk. Obshch. Isp. Prir., Otd. Biol., n.s., 44: 34 (1935) Figs 11B, 12B Note. The species belong to sect. Myobroma (Stev.) Bunge in sensu Kovalevskaya (1981) or sect. Caprini in sensu Podlech and Zarre (2013: 702). Initially, the species was described by N. Pavlov as endemic to the Syr Darya Karatau, Kazakhstan (Pavlov 1935). The author classified the species as an autochthonous Turanian element and as- sumed they would hardly be found in other regions of Central Asia. According to cur- rent data, A. syreitschikovii is endemic to limestone in the foothills and low mountains of western Tian-Shan (Kovalevskaya 1981) and is distributed to the north of the Chu- Ili mountains, Syr Darya Karatau, Santalash, and Chatkal range. The southern border of the species distribution falls to the northern side of the Akhangaran river basin. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Foothills and low mountains of Chatkal Range. Fritillaria sewerzowii Regel in Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 41 (I): 443 (1868) Figs IC, 12C = Korolkowia sewerzowii (Regel) Regel, Gartenflora 22: 163 (1873). 54 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) = Fritillaria discolor Mottet, Dict. Prat. Hort. 2: 431 (1893-1894). = Korolkowia discolor Regel, Gartenflora 35: 349 (1886). Note. Endemic to western Tian-Shan and one of the most ornamental species in the flora of Central Asia. Widespread in almost all mountain ranges of western Tian-Shan. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Foothills and low mountains of Alay, Chatkal, and Kurama ranges. Jurinea winkleri Iljin in V.L. Komarov (ed.), Fl. URSS, 27: 722, 616 (1962) Pigs) Note. The species are mostly distributed in FV. A disjunction is located in the Zirabu- lak low mountains (western Pamir-Alay). Current field surveys show that populations of the species survived only in the foothill zone. In the northern part of the valley, several isolated and fragmented populations are found in the Chust-Pap foothills (To- jibaev et al. 2022). This population stretches in fragments in a northeastern direction via the north of Namangan city, and relatively good micro populations are recorded in the variegated slopes of the vicinity of Arbagish and adjacent territories of Kyrgyzstan. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Foothills of FV. Leibnitzia knorringiana (B.Fedtsch.) Pobed. in Fl. URSS 28: 594 (1963) Figs 111, 12E Note. The genus Leibnitzia Cass. are a unique example of the Asian—North Ameri- can biogeographic disjunction pattern (Hansen 1988; Baird 2009). Two species of the genus, i.e., L. /yrata (Sch.Bip.) G.L.Nesom and L. occimadrensis G.L.Nesom, are of biogeographic interest because they are two American members of a predominately Asian genus (Nesom 1983). The other four Asian members of Leibnitzia occupy most- ly high-altitude (upper limits of 3100-5000 m above sea level vary by species), semi- arid habitats in the Himalayan region, China, Japan, Korea, Bhutan, Mongolia, Siberia (Hansen 1988), and Kyrgyzstan (Nesom 1983; Hansen 1988; Lazkov and Sultanova 2014). Among them, L. knorringiana is distinguished by the smallest distribution area, limited to the Naryn river valley, Talas, and the Chatkal and Fergana Ranges within Kyrgyzstan (Tulaganova 1993b). Only one population was found at the Bozbu-Too- Ungortepa IPA site, growing in the tract of Taldi-Bulak (Mountain Bosbu-Too). Existing Conservation Threats. Farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan. Distribution in FV. Middle mountain belt and highlands of Naryn River Valley, Talas, Chatkal, and Fergana ranges. Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley oe) Figure 12. Distribution map of the species of sub-criterion Aiv based on GeoCAT. A Allium minutum B Astragalus syreitschikovii C Fritillaria sewerzowii D Jurinea winkleri E Leibnitzia knorringiana F Lagochilus knorringianus var. drobovii G Polycnemum perenne H Pseudosedum ferganense \ Tulipa bifloriformis } Takhtajaniantha tau-saghyz. Lagochilus knorringianus var. drobovii (Kamelin & Tzukerv.) Lazkov, KH Bot. Monogr. Rev. Ser. 1: 230 (2016) Figsoll bh 2E = Lagochilus drobovii Kamelin & Tzukerv. in Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 20: 166 (1983). 56 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) Note. Originally, the species was described as Lagochilus drobovii Kamelin & Tzukerv. and was limited to a narrow range in the villages of Shakaftar and Sumsar in southern Chatkal, Kyrgyzstan (Kamelin and Tschukervanik 1983; Tschukervanik 1987). Later, Lazkov (2016: 230) considered these plants as a variety of Lagochilus knorringianus, because the type specimen of L. knorringianus and the type specimen of L. drobovii were collected together. According to Lazkov (2016) L. knorringianus var. drobovii dif- fers from L. knorringianus var. knorringianus by calyx, and sometimes the entire plant is more or less pubescent with short and long multicellular setaceous hairs. Here we report L. knorringianus var. drobovii as a new record for the Flora of Uzbekistan based on specimens collected in Arbagish village, Uzbekistan. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Low mountains of Chatkal Range. Polycnemum perenne Litv. in Trudy Bot. Muz. Imp. Akad. Nauk 7: 81 (1910) Figs 11K 12G Note. ‘The genus Polycnemum L. is represented by 7-8 species distributed in North Africa, the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia Minor, Siberia, and Central Asia (Sidorenko 1968; cor- rected by POWO 2022). Three species grow in Central Asia (Pratov 1972c). Among them, P perenne is distinguished by a life form (semi-shrub, the other two are annuals) and nar- row distribution (endemic to western Tian-Shan and Alay). The main part of the range is located in the western Tian-Shan (from the Syr Darya Karatau in the north to the Kurama Range in the south), where it is confined to rocks, stony and gravelly slopes of foothills, and a low mountain belt (800-1600 m). The species is widespread in the study area. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, ‘Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Foothills and low mountains of Alay, Chatkal, and Kurama ridges. Pseudosedum ferganense Boriss. in Trudy Bot. Inst. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R., Ser. 1, Fl. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 1: 112 (1933) Figs 11G, 12H Note. The genus Pseudosedum (Boiss.) A.Berger falls into the category of medium size genus within Crassulaceae DC. and comprises about 14 registered taxa (Tojibaev et al. 2018b). Ten species grow in Central Asia (Pratov 1974), two species are noted for northern China (Kanjun 2001), and three isolated species belong to the “Flora Iranica” area (Jansson and Rechinger 1970). Previously, P ferganense was recorded as a new species for the flora of Uzbekistan (Tojibaev et al. 2018b). It occupies an isolated position within the genus and belongs to the monotype sect. 7uberaria Boriss. (Borissova 1939), with the roots forming tu- Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley 57 bers. In the Uzbekistan part of the FV, the species grows in cracks in the rocks in the northern foothills and low mountains, and populations extend from the Chap tract to the Ungortepa massif and lower reaches of the Mailisay river basin (Arbagish). Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands, overgrazing. General distribution. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. Distribution in FV. Foothills and low mountains of Alay, Chatkal, and Kurama ranges. Tulipa bifloriformis Vved. in Opred. Rast. Sred. Azii 2: 320 (1971) Figs 11H, 121 Note. The species is one of the most widespread tulip species, endemic to western Tian-Shan (Tojibaev et al. 2020; Dekhkonov et al. 2022). However, no threat of risk of reduction or extinction of the species has been identified in the study area and ad- jacent territories of western Tian-Shan. Moreover, this species showed increased seed germination and can easily colonize disturbed habitats (Tojibaev and Kadirov 2010). Nonetheless, climate modeling for Central Asian tulips suggests that climate change will have a significantly negative impact on the range size of all species, including those currently widespread like 7’ bifloriformis (Wilson et al. 2021). General distribution. Western Tian-Shan. Distribution in FV. Northern foothills and low mountains of FV. Takhtajaniantha tau-saghyz (Lipsch. & G.G.Bosse) Zaika, Sukhor. & N.Kilian in PhytoKeys 137: 72 (2020) Figs 11J, 12] = Scorzonera uzbekistanica Czevr. & Bondarenko in Fl. Uzbekistan. 6: 436, 516 (1962). = Scorzonera tau-saghyz subsp. usbekistanica, in Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 71: 1672 (1986). Note. This species belongs to, perhaps, the most famous and interesting group of plants studied from an economic point of view. The discovery of a new rubber plant species (Scorzonera uzbekistanica Czevr. & Bondarenko) back in 1949 in eastern Fer- gana led to the explorations of this interesting territory. According to the authors of the new species, the discovered plants belonged to Scorzonera L. genus and differed from the already known S. tau-saghyz Lipsch. & Bosse (endemic to the Karatau moun- tains, western Tian-Shan, Kazakhstan) in a number of morphological features, first of all by “yellow latex, bare and on the edge of the jagged outer leaves of the wrapper and achenes, pubescent only along hardly noticeable veins”. These distinctive features made it possible to recognize the Maylisay plants as new (Chevrenidi and Bondarenko 1950). However, the protologue was given diagnostic signs only in Russian. A valid de- scription was given in the 6" volume of the Flora of Uzbekistan (Kovalevskaya 1962).. 58 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) Later, Kamelin and Tagaev (1986), S. uzbekistanica identified it as a subspecies of S. tau-saghyz (Scorzonera tau-saghyz subsp. usbekistanica (Czevr. & Bondarenko) Tagaev. Nevertheless, subsequent research on the genus Scorzonera did not properly investigate the eastern Fergana plants. Even in the Conspectus Florae Asiae Media (Tagaev 1993), this species is referred to as a synonym of S. tau-saghyz. Currently, all available modern sources, including Zaika et al. (2020), POWO (2022), accept S. uzbekistanica as a synonym of Takhtajaniantha tau-saghyz. Existing Conservation Threats. Habitat fragmentation, farmlands. General distribution. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan Distribution in FV. Foothills of southern Chatkal. Socio-economic issues The FV is one of the most densely populated regions of Central Asia and one of the major areas of concern regarding the conservation of natural landscapes. For centuries, the valley ecosystems have been under the pressure of anthropogenic impacts (Tojibaev et al 2018a). Since the mid-1970s, habitats of many endemic and rare plant species of FV have been impacted by humans. However, populations of some species were not found during field surveys in the 1970s (Vernik and Rakhimova 1982). Human impacts on the environment by uncontrolled development and climatic changes have exacerbated the threatened status of numerous plant species and habitats in FV (Tojibaev et al. 2022). In densely populated regions with limited natural ecosys- tems, like FV, effective conservation actions need to consider the social, cultural, and economic interests of local humans. This postulate applies to IPA programs as well (Blasi et al. 2011). Since IPAs inevitably fit into a wider context and are not designed to exist in isolation, they should be considered when designing ecological networks (Blasi et al. 2011; Jongman and Pungetti 2004) and ecological corridors, planning the zona- tion of existing protected areas and defining key biodiversity areas (Eken et al. 2004). In the Uzbekistan part of the FV, such programs are still relevant despite the inability to create new protected areas. Discussion IPA Assessment Within the FV Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa, the IPA site is important for wild plant conser- vation. Using the IPA criteria for the FV (Tojibaev et al. 2022), Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa massif qualifies as an IPA under criteria A. Endemism and a new record for the national floras Due to research within the framework of the Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa IPA, the massif has become one of the most studied areas of the FV, where many endemic and threat- Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley ee ened species of local flora are concentrated. Our research has shown that at least five species (Allium tatyanae, Astragalus bosbutooénsis, Corydalis bosbutooénsis, Hedysarum turkestanicum, and Iris austrotschatkalica) are endemic to this relatively small area, which is one of the highest rates in mountainous Central Asia. Of these, four species have been found and described by some of this paper's authors (G.A. Lazkov, K.Sh. Tojibaev, and EA. Karimov). It is also noteworthy that /ris austrotschatkalica was de- scribed as the result of the identification of the IPA site (Tojibaev et al. 2014a). Our inventory of the flora within the study area has significantly enriched the known flora of Uzbekistan with species previously noted only in countries adjacent to Uzbekistan. Some of these new records have been published prior to this work, includ- ing those on Astragalus spryginii Popov, and Pseudosedum ferganense Boriss. (Tojibaev et al. 2018b). Here we report the presence of more species newly discovered among the flora of Uzbekistan, including Hyalolaena intermedia Pimenov and Kljuykov (Lyskov et al. 2019), Allium arkitense, A. minutum, Phlomoides alaica, Lagochilus knorringianus var. drobovii, and Corydalis bosbutooensis. Additionally, modern research within the framework of the IPA has found some species here that were previously considered extinct in this area, including Lamyropappus schakaptaricus, and Hedysarum gypsaceum (Tojibaev et al. 2019). Contribution of the present research The second IPA site in FV occupies a transboundary position between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The site was selected based on species endemism at national (Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan), regional (FV) and botanical province (Afghan-Turkestan province) levels. The research results of the current stage of IPA identification in the FV was com- pleted in line with the core aims of the [PAs Programme (Anderson 2002; Darbyshire et al. 2017, 2019). The best available data in Central Asia was used to highlight key sites with high concentrations of endemic and threatened plant species, growing out- side of protected areas. We also considered the criteria proposed by Shaltout and Eid (2016), which allow for species vulnerability, irreplaceability, and richness of vascular plant species in the IPA site. The first studies on the identification of IPA sites were characterized by determin- ing IPAs within different countries, and compiling lists of rare and threatened species (Al-Abbasi et al. 2010; Hall et al. 2011; Llewellyn et al. 2011; Artemov 2012; Olonova et al. 2013; Dimeyeva and Vesselova 2015; and etc.). Data conversion into maps was associated with a number of works (Blasi et al. 2009, 2011), methodical improvement of IPA criteria for a global approach to plant conservation (Darbyshire et al. 2017), and just a few were devoted to the transboundary IPAs (Shuka and Malo 2010; Shuka et al. 2014). The IPA research remains relevant due to the global loss of biodiversity and critical habitats around the world. Such critical habitats include the following regions: the tropics, with its high species diversity (https://www.kew.org/science/our-science/ projects/tropical-important-plant-areas; see also Darbyshire et al. 2019; Dani Sanchez et al. 2021; andect.); Europe, with its high level of floristic data (Sparrius et al. 2019); and Central Asia (Tojibaev et al. 2022), botanically poorly-known part of Asia. Due 60 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev et al. / Nature Conservation 51: 13-70 (2023) to this, the IPA study carried out in the FV has some advantages. In particular, among the wide range of IPA studies, ours is one of the few that applied geospatial analysis of rare and threatened species for Red List assessment (Bachman et al. 2011). In addition, we provide detailed information on the botanical geography and taxonomy of species. Together, the information provided will contribute to the rapid dissemination of re- cent, easily accessible, data concerning understudied species and habitats, as well as the definition of practical boundaries (Blasi et al. 2011) in botanically poorly studied areas. Further research Although the current data on the plant diversity of Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa IPA is sat- isfactory, the next stage requires extensive botanical research in the following areas: (1) comprehensive surveys to build up a basic inventory of the plants in the area based on erid mapping; (2) vegetation studies to determine and map the major vegetation types; and (3) targeted monitoring programs taking into account threats to rare habitats and species in the future. Lastly, any serious conservation planning within the Bozbu-Too and surrounding transboundary area should implement proper socio-economic research programs to examine ways to engage local stakeholders (Margules and Pressey 2000). Conclusion The second phase of IPA research in the FV shows the effectiveness of the basic princi- ples of IPA in the conditions of mountainous Central Asia. In contrast to the previous stage, here we explored a transboundary territory by combining the efforts of scientists in two neighboring countries (Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan). This is an important step in the creation of a regional database of rare and endangered species, as well as in that of a regional Red list, which can serve to focus conservation action at the trans- boundary level. Continuing studies, such as these in transboundary areas, contribute to increasing the level of floristic knowledge in poorly studied areas. Furthermore, the studies would attract the attention of government environmental organizations as well as international organizations at the global scale, to the conservation of threatened spe- cies and critical habitats. Capacity building requires the standardization of approaches, extensive field research on both potentially threatened species and critical habitats, as well as new research into the causes of plant habitat degradation. Acknowledgements This work was supported by research grants from the Korea National Arboretum (project no. KNA1-1-26, 20-1) and in the framework of scientific programs of the National Herbarium of Uzbekistan (TASH). It is also a part of the scientific program, Important plant areas in the Fergana Valley 61 Grid mapping of the flora of mountainous regions of southern Uzbekistan, funded by the government of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The authors are grateful to the TASH, FRU, MW, and LE herbarium curators. The authors would also like to thank anony- mous reviewers for their insights that helped improve the manuscript. References Abdullaeva MH (1987) Scutellaria L. Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae, vol. 9. Tashkent, 13- 37. [In Russian] Abdusalamova LN (1978) Oxytropis DC. 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