Implications of location specific data and their usefulness in conservation planning: an example from Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)

The present study evaluated the usefulness of collection of location specific data for assessing patterns of species diversity and endemism based on a dataset for the 10 temperate flowering plant families from the Indian Himalaya Region. Analysis was based on 818 grid cells (15 x 15') representing throughout the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). Based on the existing information on diverse aspects of the selected plant families four indices, i.e., species richness, weighted endemism, 1-4 cell endemism and corrected weighted endemism were developed and mapped for selected plant families. Analysis revealed that endemism is significantly (P < 0.001) correlated with species richness (1-4 cell endemic index: r = 0.85; weighted endemism; r = 0.58). On the basis of four different indices, potential areas have been identified for conservation. Data of each indices have been overlaid to each other for identification and prioritization of endemic rich areas in the Indian Himalayan Region.