Using endemism to assess representation of protected areas – the family Myrtaceae in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

A study assessing the representation of Myrtaceae species within protected areas reveals that 16% of their ranges are endemic to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA), with a higher endemism rate (33%) observed for species with smaller ranges. The research introduces spatially-based quantitative measures, weighted endemism (WE) and corrected weighted endemism (CWE), to evaluate how different land units within protected areas contribute to conservation efforts at both regional and continental scales. While the genus Eucalyptus significantly contributes to endemism scores, Leptospermum shows 3.7% less restriction than expected, whereas Melaleuca is 5% more restricted. The findings highlight centres of high endemism within the GBMWHA and provide a scalable method for quantifying conservation significance in protected areas.

Laffan, S. W., Ramp, D., & Roger, E. (2012). Using endemism to assess representation of protected areas – the family Myrtaceae in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Journal of Biogeography, 40(3), 570–578. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12001