Mary Ann Cortez Bautista
Psychotria L. (Rubiaceae) is one of the largest genera with approximately 2000 species and 113 species are recognized in the Philippines. It is often a species-rich component of humid tropical forests in South America, Africa, and South-East Asia. Consequently, Psychotria seems to be a good index taxon for describing species diversity of tropical flowering plants and therefore provides a diverse data set that can be used by conservation planners and organizations advocating for plant conservation. However, despite the large number of species identified in the Philippine archipelago, many are now considered extinct or possibly extinct due to the drastic decline of Philippine forests over the past years. The estimated extinction of Philippine Psychotria based on Sohmer and Davis (2007) is around 0-28%, relatively lower than the previously estimated value given by Sohmer (ca. 50%), though the latter figure can be considered as an upper limit.
Psychotria sp.
Given these values, the survival of most Philippine Psychotria doesn’t look good and requires the urgent need for conservation assessment. Most taxa in the Philippines are endemic and doing conservation assessments for all species and varieties is challenging and long-term work but then we must start somewhere. Areas in Palawan seem to be a good starting point for the assessment; thus, this research aims to provide an assessment of the Philippine Psychotria in Palawan and its conservation needs.
Specifically, the assessment will achieve the following objectives:
(1) provide a list of the remaining Psychotria (including their conservation status) in Palawan, Philippines,
(2) give an overview of the extinction threat for Psychotria species in Palawan, Philippines
(3) determine those species of Psychotria in Palawan which conservation effort is seriously needed, for instance identifying species for in situ and ex-situ conservation
(4) DNA barcode the remaining Psychotria in Palawan, Philippines
(5) provide taxonomic descriptions of the Psychotria species in Palawan, Philippines.
With this study, we are also hoping to engage the government and educate the local people in protecting plants with obviously no horticultural values like Psychotria.
Header: Psychotria ixoroides.