Territorial Protection of Rare Orchid Species (Orchidaceae) in the Nizhny Novgorod Region

Abstract

This study aims at the analysis of the current status of the territorial protection of rare orchid species in the Nizhny Novgorod region to solve the problems of further maintaining biodiversity in the region and developing the system of protected areas. The total area of 411 existing and 147 projected protected areas in the region together with buffer zones is 8350 km2 (11% of the region area). For the analysis, we used data from the Herbarium of the Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (NNSU), scientific publications and data obtained by the authors during surveys in 1986–2019. To determine the level of territorial protection we used the frequency of occurrence of rare orchid species in the protected areas estimated in points. It was calculated at the basis on the share of the number of discovered locations of the species per the total number of findings of that species in the region. Also we took into consideration numbers and areas of protected areas where the orchid species are protected, their status and category (federal or regional, established or projected), as well as actual records of orchids on these areas over the past 20 years. A total of 19 rare orchid species are protected at 65 established and 11 projected protected areas of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Ten orchid species are recognized as well provided with territorial protection (52.6%). The level of territorial protection of 4 species is recognized as satisfactory. At the same time 4 species of orchids are poorly protected. The threat of extinction of these orchid species in the region is significant. Three species of orchids, which are probably extinct in the Nizhny Novgorod region, are absent in the protected areas. The number of rare species growing on existing protected areas ranges from 1 to 11 and depends on different criteria (level of the flora research, diversity of habitats) and has a weak positive correlation with the area (correlation coefficient – 0.46). We predict a significant increase in the number of finds of rare orchids in protected areas with a detailed flora inventory conducting. The system of protected areas established in the region as a whole provides a satisfactory level of protection for rare orchids. Nevertheless, the territorial protection of these plants needs to be improved.