Volume I

Plants

The problem of plant world protection along with the whole of the environment has never been so important for mankind as nowadays. Human being persistently exploiting the nature deforms natural landscapes which were formed during the ages. The intensive development of industry, agriculture and wide utilization of virgin lands leads to the changes of ecological balance, due to which there appears a serious danger of decline of flora and fauna specific composition. Plant and animal disappearance causes the loss of completely unique sets of genes which will never be restored. The preservation of flora genetic fund also plays a great role in selection work for the creation of new economically variable cultivation and improvement of the existing ones.
There are more than 4500 species of higher plants in their nature state on the territory of Uzbekistan. Among them there are many rare, endemic and relict ones (more than 400) for the protection of which efficient measures are required. About 10-12% of local flora fall under these species. In spite of the fact that state of plants protected in the reserves is normal relatively , many species of plants abruptly reduced their areals (for instance, tulips and pionies, soapy stem, lacochilus inebrians Bunge, Allium stipitatum Regel etc.). A considerable amount of species is on the verge of disappearance.
A lot of damage to the wild flora is done by uncontrolled picking of rare medicinal and food plants (especially it concerns bulbous, bulbotuber and rhizomatus plants dug up together with underground organs).
It is high time to stop the consumer attitude to the natural life including plant world. It is the duty of all citizens of the country to preserve and increase natural resources.
Following the proclaiming of independence by Uzbekistan the environmental protection got a new impulse in this region. In order to promote preservation of plant world within all its natural variety several very important laws were adopted: "On nature protection" (of December 9, 1992), "On special protected natural territories" (of May 7, 1993) and "On the protection and use of the plant world" (of December 26, 1997).
"Red Data Book of Uzbekistan" was founded in 1979. It included the princi pal information on the rare and disappearing species of local flora. The task of the "Red Data Book" was to attract attention of the public and state executive institutions to the problems of nature protection and genetic fund preservation.
The edition of "Red Data Book of Uzbek SSR" of 1984 included only 163 species of local plants that are in worst state. But at present, the situation has changed. The new field investigations showed that some species increased thier numbers and areal (for example: Allium stipitatum Regel. Allium suvorovii Regel etc.). The numbers of very rare species -The suim minkwitrianum increased from 7 till 17. The most rare species Eremurus corovini B.Fedtsch on Kuramiski range was discovered. But at the same time Ungernia victoris Wed., Allium pskemense B.Fedtsch, Salvia margarita and some another plants abruptly reduced their numbers. The new edition included 138 more rare species and now it contains all in all 301 species of plants.
Plant species are divided into 4 categories(status) in the "Red Data Book of Uzbekistan" according to the classification worked out by the international Union for Nature Protection.
O. Apparently disapeared ones. These are the species that have not been met for several years but they are likely to exist in some inaccessible places or within the culture.
1. Dliopjiaailnij ones. The species that are on the verge of becoming extinct and their further existence is impossible without special measures of protection.
2. Rare ones. The species that are not under direct menace of disappearance but being in such a small amount or such limited territories or specific places of dwelling that they can disappear very soon. Careful observations are required.
3. Reducing ones. Species, the amount and areal of which are beind decreased for a definite time due to natural reasons or because of man's interference or due to both mentioned Г reasons. Regular estimation of their state is necessary-Due to many reasons the species state can change differently, i.e. a series of plants can disappear or leave the category being protected.
The alphabetic order of the arrangement of families, genus and species inside them is accepted in the present edition. The names of many species having been used for a long time in special literature are changed by new ones according to the latest studies.
Every species is supplied by a Russian, Uzbek and Latin name with the indication of the familywhich it relates to. A brief description of a species, i. e. form of life, night, gabitus , leaves, flowers, fruit, phenology, distribution is given. The places of species occupation are listed.
The locations are shown in the diagram by points. Given enough data the amount of the species in nature, the reasons of number and production in natural life are mentioned. In some cases the possibility of species cultivation under experimental conditions or on an industrial scale is mentioned. Necessary protection measures that have been undertaken are described. Herbarium collections, literature data, the results of authors' field works of long standing . and questionnaire data are used in specific articles.
As a result of research work in viloyats of the Republic conducted by the scientists of the Centre of Plant Production "Botanika" of Uzbek Academy of Sciences (former the Institute of Botany of Uzbek Academy of Sciences) during 8 years after the edition of the Red Data Book Data Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan some changes have been made. For instance in connection with the increase in number and expansion of the area Crocus korolkovii, Euonimus koopmannii, Allium suvorovii, A. stipitatum were excluded from the Red Data Book. And on the contrary, 6 new species of higher plants and 3 species of fungi recognized as rare were included. 7 species were transferred from status 2 to status 3 in connection with the expansion of their populations in nature.
As a result of investigations it was revealed that 10 species of plants are met with on another ranges and under peculiar conditions.
In accordance with the botanical nomenclature the genus Petilium is recognized as Fritillaria and the family Melanthaceae as Colchicaceae.
Thus, 302 species of higher plants and 3 species of fungi are included in this edition.
"Tfiie publication of the second volume of the "Red Data Book of Uzbekistan) raised different tasks for botanists, corresponding authorities and public organizations, namely the establishing of reservations, strengthening of the control of trade and stocking up of wild plants.
If everybody takes part in the protection of plants we'll leave a unique wealth for future generations.