The dwarf ebony Trochetiopsis ebenus is also considered critically endangered.
This plant can be found in shrubland on Saint Helena, where only two adult
individuals now remain (Lambdon and Ellick 2016).
Orthotrichum handiense is an example of a critically endangered bryophyte
species. This species is endemic to the Canary Islands and the existing 50 individuals
can be found only at a single location in the shrubland of Fuerteventura (Mancebo
et al. 2019).
The northern hairy nosed wombat Lasiorhinus krefftii inhabits the savanna of
Australia. The population of this critically endangered species has been estimated to
consist of only c. 113 individuals (Sam et al. 2003).
Examples of critically endangered plants that can be found in savannas are:
Uebelmannia buiningii (Brazil), Turraea elephantina (Kenya) and Linderniella
boutiqueana (Burundi) (IUCN 2019).
There are many reasons for the loss and degradation of habitat around the globe.
In Brazil, for example, a large area of the Cerrados has been transformed into
agricultural land (Ratter et al. 1997). In South Africa, the area covered by fynbos
is decreasing. Agriculture and urbanisation had already destroyed 48% of the dune
asteraceous fynbos and 77% of the sandplain proteoid fynbos of the cape of
Peninsula by the end of the last millenium (Richardson et al. 1995).
In Europe, most of the heathlands and shrubs are manmade and at risk due to
abandonment, as this favours the growth of forests.
13% of the heathlands and shrubs described in the European Red List of Habitats
(Janssen et al. 2016) are vulnerable, and a decrease in heathland areas can be
observed almost everywhere in Europe. For example, 99% of Belgium’s heathland
areas have disappeared since 1775 (Piessens and Hermy 2006). Heathlands in
Fig. 4 Number of critically endangered species (CR) in savannas of the various continental regions
(IUCN Red List: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ 11.01.2019, illustration created by the author)
Heathland, Scrub and Savanna: Overview, Recent Trends and Outlook
371
This plant can be found in shrubland on Saint Helena, where only two adult
individuals now remain (Lambdon and Ellick 2016).
Orthotrichum handiense is an example of a critically endangered bryophyte
species. This species is endemic to the Canary Islands and the existing 50 individuals
can be found only at a single location in the shrubland of Fuerteventura (Mancebo
et al. 2019).
The northern hairy nosed wombat Lasiorhinus krefftii inhabits the savanna of
Australia. The population of this critically endangered species has been estimated to
consist of only c. 113 individuals (Sam et al. 2003).
Examples of critically endangered plants that can be found in savannas are:
Uebelmannia buiningii (Brazil), Turraea elephantina (Kenya) and Linderniella
boutiqueana (Burundi) (IUCN 2019).
There are many reasons for the loss and degradation of habitat around the globe.
In Brazil, for example, a large area of the Cerrados has been transformed into
agricultural land (Ratter et al. 1997). In South Africa, the area covered by fynbos
is decreasing. Agriculture and urbanisation had already destroyed 48% of the dune
asteraceous fynbos and 77% of the sandplain proteoid fynbos of the cape of
Peninsula by the end of the last millenium (Richardson et al. 1995).
In Europe, most of the heathlands and shrubs are manmade and at risk due to
abandonment, as this favours the growth of forests.
13% of the heathlands and shrubs described in the European Red List of Habitats
(Janssen et al. 2016) are vulnerable, and a decrease in heathland areas can be
observed almost everywhere in Europe. For example, 99% of Belgium’s heathland
areas have disappeared since 1775 (Piessens and Hermy 2006). Heathlands in
Fig. 4 Number of critically endangered species (CR) in savannas of the various continental regions
(IUCN Red List: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ 11.01.2019, illustration created by the author)
Heathland, Scrub and Savanna: Overview, Recent Trends and Outlook
371