Abstract
Endemism was first defined in the 1800s, a term borrowed from medicine to describe taxa restricted to small geographical areas. We discuss how our knowledge of the causes of regions of high endemism and our recognition of the importance of endemism for conservation purposes has grown but remains incomplete. Recording areas with high endemism is increasingly recognized as important for conservation activities. As a result of concepts such as biodiversity hotspots and documents such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, endemism is now a common concept in scientific, political, and conservation circles. However, we conclude that there is much work to be done in increasing awareness of the role of endemics in conservation efforts through education.
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Hobohm, C., Tucker, C.M. (2014). The Increasing Importance of Endemism: Responsibility, the Media and Education. In: Hobohm, C. (eds) Endemism in Vascular Plants. Plant and Vegetation, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6913-7_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6913-7_1
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