**1. Introduction**

The plant and animal species form the foundation of a healthy ecosystem. Endangered species give the indication that the ecosystem is slowly falling apart/ degraded. A loss of single species triggers the loss of other species within the ecosystem. The fast rate of extinction and species introduction pose a major threat to our biodiversity. Over 50% of species face extinction during five mass extinctions that occurred in the past 500 million years [1, 2] and now at present we are in the opening phase of sixth mass extinction [3] which is predicted to be human impacted [4]. Plants are significantly important for conservation of biodiversity both from ecological and biological point of view. Unsustainable harvesting and habitat degradation are posing tremendous threat to plant diversity. Cure for diseases eventually comes from plants. Over 50% of the 150 most prescribed

#### *Endangered Plants*

medicines were originally derived from plants or other natural products. According to the world conservation and monitoring Centre (WCMC) more than 8000 tree species are estimated to be endangered worldwide (www.unep-wcmc.org.), however, between 22% and 47% of the world's plants are predicted to be endangered [5]. So, all the plant species must be protected before they are lost forever from nature's medicine cabinet.

Plants which are scare as the total population of the species have few individuals or are restricted to a narrow geographic range are known as rare plants [6]. A non-profitable conservation organization "Nature Serve" provides the scientific information and tools needed to help and guide effective conservation action and has developed a consisted method for evaluating relative imperilment of species emphasizing rare species. A variety of factors have been summarized and assessed based on the best available information i.e.,


"Nature Serve" has provided ranks (**Table 1**) for species based upon the status of their availability and the extent of threat possessed by the plants.

To halt the rapid loss of biodiversity (plants & animals), the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was passed in 1973. It is referred as "Crown jewel" of United Nation's environmental laws and one of the world's strongest species protection laws [7]. The ESA is uniquely effective piece of environmental legislation as it does not demand a cost benefit analysis before action.

In India, the Biological Diversity Act (2002) for conservation of biodiversity strongly recommends the creation of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) at village level. It also provides mechanism for declaration of the areas being conserved for agricultural or wildlife biodiversity as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS). Conservation communities represent the sustainable model of community development, a new approach providing alternative to conventional development approaches. It creates sustainable employment opportunities for the local inhabitants of the community and the surrounding region [8].


**Table 1.**

*Nature Serve Global Conservation Status Ranks for Species (G-ranks) [6].*
