Article

Morocco’s ecosystems, like the ones of the other southern and eastern Mediterranean countries, have been for decades undergoing very harsh anthropo-zoogenic pressure. Threats of regression or even extinction of plant (and animal) species are real and serious. Researchers and decision makers are all encouraged to work hard for the conservation of the national biodiversity. In order to achieve this goal with full knowledge, an inventory of the situation seemed essential. This is how the idea of a Red Data Book emerged. The project "Red Data Book of the vascular flora of Morocco" is currently very well advanced. A first version was published, between November 2016 and November 2018, in ten fascicles, via the website of the Tela-Botanica Association, in order to collect suggestions, comments and complements from the botanical community. The Red Data Book deals with all the existing or doubtful plant species in Morocco, whatever their status: natural, naturalized or adventitious. They are classified according to the IUCN Red List Categories (World Union for Nature), slightly amended. For Categories VU (Vulnerable), EN (Endangered) and CR (Critically Endangered) species, the following information is provided: biological type, world distribution and distribution in Morocco. The Red Data book also provides an updated national floristic inventory, with updated nomenclature and taxonomy