ANALYSIS OF THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF RED DATA BOOK PLANT SPECIES IN THE LOWER ZARAFSHAN NATURAL GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRICT BY YEARS

Abstract

This article analyzes the increase in the number of plant species included in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan within the Lower Zarafshan natural geographical district by years as a geoecological indicator of biodiversity. The study is based on the Red Data Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan, materials on the current state of the flora of the Lower Zarafshan district, and scientific literature on sustainable development, environmental security, and the rational use of natural resources. The article substantiates that the increase in the number of plant species included in the Red Data Book is associated, on the one hand, with the deepening of botanical research and the improvement of species inventory, and, on the other hand, with growing anthropogenic pressure, pasture degradation, expansion of irrigated lands, desertification, soil salinization, water scarcity, and landscape disturbance in the region. In the Lower Zarafshan natural geographical district, rare species such as snake-leaved onion, Turkestan zulfiya, soft-haired calligonum, Mattey’s calligonum, Paletsky’s calligonum, throat-haired eremostachys, and Sogdian cousinia are of particular ecological importance. The results of the study show that the increase in the number of plants included in the Red Data Book is not merely a statistical rise, but an important indicator of declining ecological stability in territorial ecosystems, shrinking natural habitats, and intensifying geoecological risk.

Keywords

Lower Zarafshan, Red Data Book, plants, biodiversity, geoecological indicator, desertification, anthropogenic impact, sustainable development, endemic species, relict species.