Status of the flora and plant conservation in the sultanate of Oman

Increasing threats to plant diversity in Oman include loss of habitat through increased livestock holdings, lack of regeneration, spread of invasive species, a requirement for more land for housing, industry, roads and cultivation. In order to identify species at risk and threatened and vulnerable habitats, a list of the threatened flora is prepared using the IUCN Red List Categories. The threatened flora constitutes 4.6% of the total species, 80% of which occurs in the southern region of Oman. 0.7% of the flora is Critically Endangered, 0.2% Endangered, and 2.0% Vulnerable. 1.5% of the total species are placed in the Low Risk category and 0.3% which lack complete data on distribution and population status, in the Data Deficient category. The endemic flora constitutes 4.7% and the regionally endemic flora, 3.2% of the total species. Endemism is highest in the southern region where 46% of the endemic and regionally endemic species are threatened. In order to conserve the biological diversity of Oman, the need for more nature reserves, especially in the southern region is highlighted.