Conservation Strategy for protecting Crataegus x sinaica against climate change and anthropologic activities in South Sinai Mountains, Egypt

Abstract

The genus name Crataegus, is derivative from a Greek word kratos meaning hardness of wood. Crataegus relates to family Rosaceae; it contains about 280 species of deciduous spiny shrubs and small trees where most of these species are grown as ornamentals and hedging plants, they are broadly distributed in Northern temperate zones of Asia, Europe and America. In Egypt, it is confined to mountainous South Sinai; it grows on the high elevated wadis in Saint Catherine area. Many Crataegus species have been traditional used in folk medicine since ancient time for the cure of heart problems such as hypertension, angina, arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure. Researches of Crataegus species usually concentrate on the identification and quantification of flavonoids and anthocyanin, which have been shown to have pharmacological activity. But there is a continuous reduction in habitat quality for this species through time. This reduction observed in Crataegus sinica is likely caused by climate changes in the past few decades and human activities (over cutting for fuel and food, unmanaged collection for scientific researches, uncontrolled tourism and establish of bedouin settlements). We aim to highlights these challenge threatening Crataegus population and suggest conservation plans to protect this species from extinction and finally make further studies about this important threatened species.