Plant Diversity of Central Asia is a peer-reviewed, Open Access journal published by the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It publishes original research, reviews and short communications on the flora, vegetation, systematics, ecology and conservation of Central Asia, in English. ☰ Imprint Information⬇ Journal Flyer
Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan
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Phylogenomics and biogeographic patterns of Scutellaria L. (Lamiaceae): southern Asian origins and worldwide dispersal
Scutellaria L. (Lamiaceae) is a diverse and pharmacologically important genus with significant species richness in Central Asia. Here, we sequenced and analyzed complete chloroplast genomes of 14 Scutellaria species from Uzbekistan and adjacent regions, integrating them with 184 publicly available plastomes to investigate genome evolution, phylogenetic relationships, and biogeographic history. All plastomes exhibited a conserved quadripartite structure, with limited variation in genome size (151.6– 152.3 kb), GC content (38.23–38.34%), and gene content. Codon usage showed a consistent bias toward A/T-ending codons. A total of 32–55 SSRs were identified per genome, with elevated variability in several Central Asian taxa, highlighting their utility as molecular markers. Nucleotide diversity analyses revealed highly variable loci, primarily in noncoding regions, suitable for DNA barcoding and phylogenetic inference. Phylogenomic reconstruction strongly supported the monophyly of Scutellaria and resolved three major evolutionary lineages. Newly sequenced taxa provided strong support for the cohesion of the Anaspis lineage, reinforcing its recognition at the subgeneric level. Ancestral area analyses indicate a southern Asian origin followed by diversification in Central and Eastern Asia and multiple dispersal events into Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
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Polymorph Stability Index (PSI) for Integrated Assessment of Floristic Families in Surkhandarya (Central Asia)
This study evaluates the dominance of polymorphic floristic families in the flora of Surkhandarya using an integrated, multidimensional approach. A total of 64,619 georeferenced occurrence records representing 2,202 species were analyzed to assess spatial, ecological, and taxonomic patterns. Spatial dominance was quantified using Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and a triangulation-based approach to estimate the actual area of distribution. Ecological differentiation was assessed through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and niche breadth, while taxonomic diversity was measured using the Shannon Diversity Index (SDI). The results revealed significant variation among families across all dimensions. Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae exhibited the highest spatial coverage and intensity, while ecological analyses showed that niche breadth is not directly correlated with taxonomic richness. The integrated Polymorph Stability Index (PSI) identified these families as the core polymorphic components of the regional flora. Overall, the findings demonstrate that floristic dominance cannot be explained by a single factor, but rather emerges from the combined effects of spatial, ecological, and taxonomic processes. The proposed PSI framework provides a robust and transferable tool for comprehensive floristic analysis in other regions.
Vascular flora of the Nuratau Mountains (Uzbekistan): an annotated checklist
The Nuratau Mountains located in Uzbekistan, in the transitional zone between the Central Asian Mountain and the Turanian phytogeographical provinces, are one of the key biodiversity areas within the Mountains of Central Asia Global Biodiversity Hotspot. These medium-altitude semiarid mountains are treated as the Nuratau phytogeographical district and have been identified as a center of endemism and priority area for protection. The flora of this very peculiar large natural area has been studied for over 150 years, but a complete checklist has never been published. This paper, which provides a fairly complete synopsis of the vascular flora of the Nuratau Mountains, enumerates 1320 species from 471 genera and 86 families.
The scientific legacy of Furkat O. Khassanov in the botanical science of Central Asia
The present contribution summarizes the scientific legacy of Furkat O. Khassanov (1959–2024), a leading botanist of Uzbekistan whose work substantially advanced floristics, geobotany, and plant taxonomy in Central Asia. Building on decades of field exploration and herbarium-based studies, he contributed to regional floras of the Pamir-Alai and other mountain systems, expanded knowledge of desert floras of Uzbekistan, and critically revised taxonomically complex genera such as Allium, Astragalus, and Iris. He played a key role in major synthesis works, including the final volume of the Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae, and served as a driving force in preparing the new edition of the “Flora of Uzbekistan” and the national Red Data Book. International collaborations—particularly with German institutions—enabled extensive comparative research, type-locality sampling, and the description of numerous new taxa. The paper outlines his principal scientific directions, highlights selected achievements, and documents taxa and nomenclatural acts associated with his name, demonstrating a lasting impact on the study and conservation of plant diversity in Central Asia.
Rhubarb: A Potent Medicinal Herb Linking Traditional Medicine Research Between Uzbekistan and China
Rhubarb has a vast distribution across Asia and has significant importance as a medicinal plant. China and Uzbekistan have a long tradition of using rhubarb species as medicinal and food plants. Both nations' traditional medicines strongly agree on the effectiveness of rhubarb. In this minireview, we summarized the existing knowledge on the plant distribution, genetic diversity, reported active ingredients with their biological efficacy, and suggest a set of research activities to combine the benefits of both nations in utilizing medicinal rhubarb resources. Conducting such systematic research in both countries according to the traditional medical knowledge of China and Uzbekistan, and using modern molecular biology and analytical bioscience technology, will significantly enhance the research level of medicinal rhubarb, also enhance further research and medicinal usage of rhubarb as healthy products, as well as the development and utilization of rhubarb resources.
Oncocyclus irises: phylogeny, evolutionary history and revised taxonomy based on complete chloroplast genome sequences
Although Iris sect. Oncocyclus has a long history of recognition as a separate taxon within the genus, its phylogeny and evolution are still poorly understood. In this study, we used plastid genomic data to reconstruct the phylogeny of Oncocyclus, to exam its relationships with other sections of the genus and to shed light on its infrageneric phylogeny, place of origin and evolution. The whole chloroplast genome-based phylogenetic tree constructed for 39 of approximately 43 species and subspecies currently recognized in sect. Oncocyclus resolved sect. Oncocyclus as monophyletic and most closely related to sect. Hexapogon and sect. Regelia. None of the species with infraspecific taxa included in our analysis was monophyletic, casting doubt on the current infrasectional taxonomy. The place of origin of Oncocyclus was found to be Iran, to where its ancestor apparently migrated from an area embracing Central Asia and Afghanistan. The evolutionary line leading to Oncocyclus from the closely related to it Regelia and Hexapogon was associated with a general reduction in number of flowers to one per stem with a concomitant increase in flower size. There were two major migration/expansion routes of Oncocyclus from Iran, namely to the Caucasus and Turkey. Next expansion of Oncocyclus was from southeastern Turkey to Levant. The above strategy of producing large solitary flowers turned out to be very successful in the rocky high elevation and foothill sides of north-western Iran, southeastern Turkey and the Caucasus, but, when they migrated to Levant, also in the deserts and sand dunes of the latter, which led to the rapid colonization of the region and the highest species richness for Oncocyclus among the regions that this group occupies. Based on the phylogenetic tree, a new section, Khorassania, is established and the taxonomic status of many species of Oncocyclus is clarified. In particular, four lower taxa have been elevated to species rank. Four species were treated as unresolved. Three new species from Iran must be established based on living material collected by Frédéric Depalle and maintained in his unique collection.
The genus Hedysarum (Fabaceae; Hedysareae) in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is one of the centers of species diversity of Hedysarum (Fabaceae) in Central Asia, where it occurs mainly in the Tian-Shan and Pamir-Alay Mountains. In this study, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of 26 species occurring in Uzbekistan. The species were classified into three clades in both non-monophyletic ITS and monophyletic plastid trees, corresponding to sections Hedysarum (one species) and Stracheya (two species), and subsection Crinifera (23 species) of section Multicaulia. We further assessed the evolutionary status of 22 morphological characters that are used as diagnostic in the taxonomy of Hedysarum. The results showed that the majority of morphological characteristics in Hedysarum exhibit a high level of homoplasy. Only a few of these characteristics, such as pendent flowers in the raceme (section Hedysarum), division of the pod into joints and joint shape and length of pod bristles, serve as synapomorphies for the monophyletic genus and its sections on the plastid tree. Additionally, we propose evaluating additional characters, such as the presence of 1 or 2 pairs of well-developed leaflets of odd-pinnate leaves, long bracts and bracteoles, as apomorphic conditions in some species of subsection Crinifera. This article also presents descriptions, nomenclatural information, type citations, and country-level distribution maps of the species of Hedysarum in Uzbekistan.
New identity and neotypification of the mysterious Anethum involucratum (Umbelliferae) from the western Pamir-Alay (Uzbekistan)
Anethum involucratum is the last species of the Umbelliferae in the flora of Uzbekistan which remains taxonomically obscure due to the loss of its type material in Tashkent (TASH) where it should have been stored according to the protologue. A comparative study of descriptions of A. involucratum and species of Galagania was undertaken with a special attention to G. tenuisecta, a widely distributed and common species, with examination of herbarium collections from Kashkadarya viloyat, a type province of A. involucratum and adjacent Samarquand viloyat. This study demonstrated that the described features of both species are almost identical, and A. involucratum is placed in the synonymy of previously described G. tenuisecta. The previously proposed synonymization of A. involucratum with G. neglecta is rejected, and its previously designated neotype is superseded. The genus Anethum is excluded from the native flora of Uzbekistan.
Plastid genomes of four species of Iris from subgenus Scorpiris
The taxonomic complexity of Iris (Iridaceae) is high, and its molecular phylogeny remains largely unknown. With the growing availability of full plastid genomes of species representing major taxonomic groups within Iris, it will become possible to produce a robust phylogenetic tree and reconstruct the evolutionary history of the genus. With this objective in mind, we sequenced and analyzed the chloroplast genomes of four species from subgenus Scorpiris native to Uzbekistan: Iris austrotschatkalica, I. pseudocapnoides, I. victoris and I. hippolyti. The phylogenetic tree obtained agreed well with those produced earlier with a limited number of chloroplast markers. We suggest as the most useful for phylogenetic analyses of Iris the following loci that show high variability and lack of loop structures: atpF/atpH, rps15/ycf1, atpA/atpF, trnL-UAA/trnF-GAA, trnG-UCC/trnR-UCU, and psaA/ycf3.
How to preserve narrow endemics in view of climate change? The Nuratau Mountains as the case
Endemic species usually have higher risk of extinction than widespread species and therefore for endemics negative effects of climate change can be especially dramatic. The Nuratau Mountains, located in Uzbekistan, are rich in endemic species and are a part of the Mountains of Central Asia Global Biodiversity Hotspot and one of Key Biodiversity Areas. To understand the consequences of climate change for a group of endemic plant species found in this region, we conducted species distribution modelling (SDM) and produced species maps of habitat suitability, as well as maps of predicted endemic species richness under current and expected future climatic conditions. Based the obtained information, we assessed: i) how well the existing protected area in the region (Nuratau Nature Reserve) protects the local endemics and ii) what needs to be done to preserve these species in the face of expected future warming. Among the 27 species studied, 14 appear to be the true narrow endemics as their predicted range is largely or entirely limited to the Nuratau Mountains. The remaining species have a wide predicted range, of which the Nuratau Mountains are only a small part. Only seven species will have suitable habitat within the Nuratau Mountains and only five of them will have suitable habitat in the protected territory of the Nuratau Nature Reserve. For six species, there will be no suitable area throughout the study area. Surprisingly, 13 species will have a suitable habitat in the Kugitang Range, where the Surkhan Nature Reserve is located. We propose as the most appropriate climate change adaptation strategy for these Nuratau endemics to artificially increase their dispersal capacity via in situ
Conservation strategy and diversity of Tulipa (Liliaceae) in Uzbekistan
In light of the ongoing biodiversity crisis, appropriate conservation strategies are urgently needed. The steadily increasing anthropogenic pressure on nature in Central Asian countries seriously threatens the fate of local species and their habitats. Here, we analyze the threats to the genus Tulipa (Liliaceae) in Uzbekistan and propose an appropriate conservation strategy based on field surveys, observations and literature review. Among the threats evidenced for these species, the most relevant are overgrazing, land use, urbanization, and fragmentation. Analysis of Tulipa distribution in Uzbekistan revealed that 27 species of Tulipa occur in 19 protected areas. Among them, the most important are Ugam-Chatkal State National Natural Park, Chatkal State Biosphere Reserve, Hissar and Surkhan State Nature Reserves, harboring 10, 9, 9 and 8 species respectively. However, 8 species (of which five species are red-listed) occur in unprotected areas. In addition to the two major conservation approaches, in situ and ex situ, civic awareness is proposed as a third important conservation component. Besides, home garden conservation is proposed as an effective tool for conservation of Tulipa that requires support from the government.
Conservation of Central Asian plant biodiversity
The severely threatened Central Asian (CA) flora requires a detailed conservation strategy well adapted to this region. The present review provides a detailed conservation methodology useful for every CA country that embraces ex situ and in situ approaches as inter-linked components. The proposed strategy includes the following major points: i) conservation planning gives the highest priority to the most endangered local endemics with regeneration problems; ii) these species are the focus in reserve design, monitoring and assessment of efficiency of a reserve network, and in creation of seed banks and living collections; iii) the species recovery plans include an ex situ component to maintain the endangered species germplasm, an in situ component to maintain natural populations, and a quasi in situ component to link them so as to obtain large quantities of planting material to be used in recovery actions, such as reinforcement and translocation; and iv) assessment of success in species recovery programs based on clearly specified objectives and criteria necessarily including evidence of regeneration in natural populations. Successful adoption and implementation of this strategy in CA requires stricter protection of nature reserves and national parks than is currently done and tighter coordination in development and implementation of the conservation plans between scientists from the five CA countries.
The genus Iris L. s. l. (Iridaceae) in the Mountains of Central Asia biodiversity hotspot
The novel, phylogeny-based classification of Iris s.l. in the Mountains of Central Asia biodiversity hotspot has been developed. Fifty seven species are accepted and classified into 14 sections. The majority of accepted species (38) belong to the juno irises, which have a centre of their diversity in Central Asia and are represented by 2 sections; the largest I. sect. Juno is subdivided into 10 species groups, whereas I. sect. Physocaulon is subdivided into 2 subsections, each with 2 aggregates. The analysis of the geographical pattern of species richness revealed two areas of exceptionally high Iris species richness: Tian-Shan (14 species) and Hissar Mts. (21 species). A morphological description, sample photograph, geographical distribution, ecological data, point distribution maps, list of specimens and photographs examined, synonymy and nomenclatural type are provided for each species. A new identification key is compiled, based on morphology and phylogenetic relationships. Iris alberti Regel is reported for the first time from Uzbekistan. Four new combinations, Iris sect. Sclerosiphon (Nevski) Sennikov & F.O.Khass., I. subsect. Drepanophyllae (Rodion.) Sennikov, I. subsect. Rosenbachianae (Rodion.) Sennikov and I. parvula (Vved.) Sennikov, are established. The name I. kopetdagensis Vved. is validated with a type and description in English. Iris suworowii Regel is restored as the priority name for I. lineata Foster. Iris popovii Vved. is treated as a synonym of I. baldshuanica O.Fedtsch. & B.Fedtsch., I. pskemensis Rukšāns as a synonym of I. kolpakowskiana Regel, I. hoogiana Dykes as a synonym of I. darwasica Regel, and Iridodictyum kopetdaghense Kurbanov is reduced to a synonym of Iris reticulata M.Bieb. Iris almaatensis Pavlov is removed from synonyms of I. subdecolorata Vved. and considered a yellow form of I. kuschakewiczii B.Fedtsch. The nomenclature of I. sect. Regelia (Foster) Foster, I. parvula (Vved.) Sennikov and I. sogdiana Bunge is corrected. The names I. sect. Regelia (Foster) Foster, I. alberti Regel, I. bloudowii Ledeb., I. halophila Pall., I. hoogiana Dykes, I. lineata Foster, I. regelii Maxim. ex Regel, I. scariosa Willd. ex Link, I. sogdiana Bunge, I. stolonifera Maxim., I. suworowii Regel, I. tenuifolia Pall., I. tenuifolia var. thianschanica Maxim. ex Regel and I. vaga Foster are lectotypified, whereas I. suworowii is also epitypified.
Prominent botanists of Central Asia: Vvedensky Aleksei Ivanovich (1898-1972)
This article honours the memory of the outstanding taxonomist and tireless researcher of the flora of Central Asia, Aleksei Ivanovich Vvedensky, the founder of the most extensive Central Asian herbarium collection, the author of monographic revisions in ‘Flora of the USSR’, the editor and author of the six volume edition of ‘Flora of Uzbekistan’, the ‘Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae’, and various taxonomic publications Vvedensky described dozens of new genera and hundreds of new species of vascular plants from Central Asia.
Species Distribution Modeling - a conservation tool with a wide spectrum of applications in Central Asia
The goal of this paper was to review and illustrate the utility of SDM for solving conservation problems. Using real-world examples, I show a variety of uses for SDM, and then review the existing and potential applications of SDM for plant conservation in Central Asia. Central Asia is the region with a high number of endemic species that have narrow habitat specialization and very restricted ranges. Many of these species are red-listed and known from only a few or a single location. Any plans for their recovery must be based on the estimates of their area of occupancy and critical habitat, as well as the knowledge of their habitat requirements and potential range. SDM can be used for obtaining this information. The predicted ranges then can be used for species translocations, identification of biodiversity and endemism hotspots and reserve design.
Complete chloroplast genomes of ten species from subgenus Allium (Allium, Amaryllidaceae)
Subgenus Allium is the largest group within the genus Allium (Amaryllidaceae) which detailed phylogenetic classification is still missing despite intensive phylogenetic research. Reconstruction of the subgenus phylogeny is impossible without proper coverage of the subgenus members representing Central Asia, one of the centers of genus (and subgenus) diversity. We sequenced whole chloroplast genomes of 10 species from subgenus Allium, mainly from Central Asia, which, together with 7 species available at NCBI provided us with a representative subgenus sampling for making inferences about the whole plastome-based phylogeny of subgenus Allium. The phylogenetic relationships among the representatives of subgenus Allium in our phylogenetic tree not only contradicted the current sectional classification within a subgenus, but even doubted the validity of the current subgenera recognized in genus Allium. The detected numerous mismatches between the species positions in the phylogenetic tree and the current species taxonomic position may suggest that the importance of the morphological traits used previously for defining sections in subgenus Allium needs reconsideration. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism in the studied genomes identified the genes ycf1, ndhF, rpoC2, matK and ndhD as the most variable regions (number of SNPs ≥ 30).
Genus Eremurus (Asphodelaceae) in the flora of Uzbekistan
In this study, 13 morphological characters in 32 species of Eremurus (Asphodelaceae) from Uzbekistan were examined and subjected to cladistic analysis. In the consensus tree, species from subgenus Eremurus clustered together, but did not form a distinct clade sister to Henningia. The subrotate flowers, tepals with one abaxial nerve, and short stamens were found to be ancestral character states in Eremurus. Based on the morphological traits analyzed, a new key to identify the species of Eremurus in Uzbekistan is provided. The main synonyms, nomenclatural types, descriptions, ecological data, distribution and photos are also given for each taxon. Eremurus korolkowii and E. baissunensis are considered nonsynonymous with E. anisopterus and E. luteus, respectively.
What determines the distribution of Tulipa species in Uzbekistan?
Although the distribution of Tulipa species in Uzbekistan is well documented, there is no clear understanding of the importance of three classes of environmental variables, climate, soil type, and topography, as determinants of their distribution. We mapped the richness of Tulipa species in Uzbekistan, and conducted species distribution modeling to analyze the contribution of climate, soil type, and topography, to their predicted suitable ranges. The relationship between Tulipa species richness and altitude is best described by a hump-shaped curve, with a majority of the Tulipa species occurring at the altitude range of 700-2200 m. The climate was a major determinant of species distribution for the majority of the analyzed species, however, topography (slope angle and aspect) was equally or even more important for T. tschimganica, T. borszczowii, T. butkovii, T. carinata, T. affinis, T. micheliana, T. sogdiana and T. korolkowii. Soil was an important factor only for T. uzbekistanica, T. butkovii and T. lanata. The conservation implications of these results are discussed.
Crossbreeding reveals the scale and genetic architecture of local adaptation in a predominantly selfing Hordeum spontaneum
Environmental variation can be large across a wide range of spatial scales resulting in complex patterns of local adaptation across species ranges. We analyzed the scale, genetic mechanism and direct climatic causes of local adaptation in a widely distributed grass Hordeum spontaneum. We performed artificial crosses of maternal plants representing the same Negev desert population with plants originating elsewhere. Pollen donors were plants from other Negev desert populations, non-desert Israeli populations sampled along an aridity gradient, and accessions covering the entire species range. Our study included planting of inter-population hybrids under favorable and simulated desert experimental conditions, followed by analysis of their performance, variation in adaptive traits and relationship with climatic parameters at sampling locations. The combined results of parental phenotypic variation and performance of hybrids were consistent with local selection, reflecting the importance of both regional and local climates. The adaptive genetic differentiation of barley desert populations had a complex architecture. None of the three effects (additive, dominance and epistasis) were fully responsible for this differentiation. Although genetic effects not related to extrinsic selection appear to contribute to genetic differentiation in barley, epistatic effects arising from local selection clearly predominated. The short-term effect of gene flow by pollen was generally negative, indicating that a majority of the new allele combinations created by recombination were maladaptive. However, the long-term effect of occasional pollen flow from other desert populations appears to be positive, as some new recombined genotypes were superior in fitness to the maternal plants even in the F2 generation.
Endemic plant species richness of Surkhondaryo province, Uzbekistan
Surkhondaryo province is one of the largest and richest in vascular plant species diversity administrative units of Uzbekistan, which also has an extremely high concentration of species endemic to Mountainous Central Asia and Uzbekistan in particular. A characteristic geological feature of this area is the wide spread of variegated outcrops formed during the Cretaceous and partly Paleogene age. Using the botanical-geographical zonation of Uzbekistan and 5x5 km grid cells, we analyzed the distribution of 63 Surkhondaryo province endemics to identify the hotspots of endemic species richness. The Boysun phytogeographic region, located in the southwest spurs of the Hissar ridge, had the largest number of species-rich grid cells. The Surkhon-Sherobod and Bobotog phytogeographic regions, located mainly in the piedmonts, foothills and low mountain belt of the Kugitang and Bobotog mountains, turned out to be poor in endemic species. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy of 63 provincial endemic species were estimated for the first time. Based on the analysis of available data and long-term field observations, the extinction of one of the narrow endemics of the Surkhondaryo province - Dipcadi turkestanicum Vved. appears to be a sad reality.
Morphology of tulips (Tulipa, Liliaceae) in its primary centre of diversity
The Tian Shan and Pamir-Alay mountains of Central Asia are generally regarded as the primary center of diversity of Tulipa species, but a comparative morphological description of Central Asian Tulipa species is still lacking. To fill the existing gap, we studied 48 Tulipa species found in Central Asia plus one outgroup (Erythronium caucasicum) for 24 morphological characters of bulbs, leaves, stems and flowers. The obtained data matrix was subjected to a cladistic analysis. Although bootstrap values were low, the morphology-based tree more or less corresponded to previous classifications, except for the placement of sect. Clusianae and T. butkovii.
Taxonomic and nomenclatural inventory of the Umbelliferae in Central Asia, described on the basis of collections of the National Herbarium of Uzbekistan
The National Herbarium of Uzbekistan (TASH) in Tashkent is the oldest and largest botanical collection not only in Uzbekistan, but also in the entire region of Central Asia. The article presents a complete inventory of the type material of Umbelliferae taxa stored in the National Herbarium of Uzbekistan (TASH), as well as some key events of the TASH history and its main personalities. The herbarium in its current state is a result of merging of seven Uzbekistanian herbaria. TASH played a special role in the studies of Central Asian Umbelliferae (Apiaceae). TASH currently holds type specimens of 130 taxa of Umbelliferae, including 125 species and 5 intraspecific taxa (according to the ranks proposed in protologues). The TASH Umbelliferae type collection contains holotypes of 82 taxa, lectotypes of 36 taxa, isolectotypes of 22 taxa, syntypes of 15 taxa, and isotypes of 19 taxa. The names of 54 taxa have been preserved in the modern nomenclature of the Umbelliferae, whereas the names of 46 and 33 taxa are now considered as nomenclatural and taxonomic synonyms. Four lectotypes are designated here.
Conservation-oriented restoration and its application to Central Asia
Continuing wide-scale habitat degradation and species extinctions indicate that existing plant conservation practices are inadequate and new approaches are needed. I briefly summarize the major principles of a previously proposed concept called conservation- oriented restoration and compare it with two other approaches to tackling ecosystems' degradation and biodiversity loss: traditional restoration and species-targeted conservation. I then present my perspective on how this concept can be applied in Central Asia as a possible solution to the regional biodiversity crisis.