Current distribution and conservation status reassessment of the Cyprus Tulip (Tulipa cypria: Liliaceae), new data from northern Cyprus

Tulipa cypria, a Cyprus endemic plant, is protected under local and international legislations and categorised as “Endangered” by IUCN. Detailed habitat and distribution information was previously limited, particularly for northern Cyprus. Our objective was to accurately map the distribution and to collect habitat, subpopulation and threat data to enable a conservation status reassessment at global and regional levels. We gathered all available data and conducted extensive surveys focusing on northern Cyprus in 2014–2015, identifying 17 extant subpopulations amounting to 7765 individuals and the loss of 2 historical subpopulations amounting to 3500 individuals. We infer a continuous decline in population size and identify the major cause to be habitat loss through agriculture, with 75% of global habitats and 100% of northern Cyprus habitats being affected by it. We update the global assessment to Endangered B1ab(iii, iv, v) + B2ab(iii, iv, v) and suggest regional assessments for northern Cyprus (Endangered B1ab(iii, iv, v) + B2ab(iii, iv, v)), UN Buffer Zone (Endangered D1) and southern Cyprus (Endangered B2ab(iii)). Conservation priorities identified include initiation of gene transfer and life history studies, population trend monitoring and exsitu conservation actions.