95 Key words: Kosovo flora, European red list, conservation, prioritization, biodiversity. Ključne besede: flora Kosova, Evropski rdeči seznam, prednostno ohranjanje, biotska pestrost. Corresponding author: Naim Berisha E-mail: naim.berisha@uni-pr.edu Received: 19. 6. 2024 Accepted: 30. 8. 2024 An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo Fadil Millaku1, Elez Krasniqi1 & Naim Berisha1 Abstract This study investigates internationally important plant taxa in Kosovo, using data from international lists and local records. The goals are to identify these taxa, outline their significance, and enhance understanding of their ecology, distribution, and conservation status. The analysis identified 59 internationally significant plant taxa in Kosovo, with the Orchidaceae family prominently represented by 33 taxa. This highlights global conservation concerns for orchids due to their vulnerability to habitat loss and illegal trade. Other important families include Amaryllidaceae, Liliaceae, and Lycopodiaceae. These taxa are listed under frameworks such as the Habitats Directive, CITES, and the Bern Convention, indicating the need for rigorous conservation efforts. Habitat loss and fragmentation are primary threats, impacting 26 taxa, followed by wild collection, grazing, agriculture, and urbanization. Effective conservation strategies should involve habitat protection, sustainable harvesting, and community engagement. Izvleček V članku smo preučili mednarodno pomembne rastlinske taksone s pomočjo mednarodnih seznamov in lokalnih podatkov. Namen je bil ugotoviti, kateri so ti taksoni, izpostaviti njihov pomen in izboljšati poznavanje njihove ekologije, razširjenosti in naravovarstveni status. Identificirali smo 59 mednarodno pomembnih taksonov za Kosovo, najbolj zastopani so predstavniki družine Orchidaceae s 33 taksoni. Ostale bolj pomembne družine so Amaryllidaceae, Liliaceae in Lycopodiaceae. Taksoni so uvrščeni na sezname, kot so Habitatna direktiva, CITES in Bernska konvencija, kar pomeni, da so potrebni strogi naravovarstveni ukrepi. Glavni grožnji, zaradi katerih je prizadetih 26 taksonov, sta izguba habitatov in njihova fragmentacija. Sledijo prekomerno nabiranje, paša, kmetijstvo in urbanizacija. Uspešne naravovarstvene strategije morajo vključevati varovanje habitatov, trajnostno nabiranje in sodelovanje skupnosti. DOI: 10.3986/hacq-2025-000924/1 • 2025, 95–110 1 Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, Kosovo. 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 96 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo Introduction Kosovo is located in the central part of the Balkan Penin- sula and despite its small territory, it boasts a diverse flo- ral richness with ~ 3000 vascular plant taxa (Stevanović, 1999, 2007; Millaku et al., 2013). The country’s favora- ble climate and varied topography have contributed to the abundance of plant species found within its borders (Rexhepi, 1982; Berisha & Bytyqi, 2021). Among these, approximately 19% are recognized as endemic (Rexhepi, 1982; Krasniqi, 1998; Stevanović et al., 2003; Tomović et al., 2014; Berisha et al., 2020a) with 9.9% of the total being threatened (Millaku et al., 2013; 2017). Internationally important plant taxa refer to species and subspecies of plants that hold importance beyond national boundaries due to their ecological, economic, or cultural value (Gillespie, 2013; Mateo‐Martín et al., 2023). These taxa play vital roles in global ecosystems by providing essential services such as carbon seques- tration, soil stabilization, and habitat provision (Domi- nati et al., 2010; Sekercioglu, 2010). Additionally, they are often economically important through their uses in medicine, agriculture, and industry, making them valu- able commodities in international trade (Wiersema & León, 1999). Moreover, certain plant taxa carry cultural significance as they are deeply rooted in the traditions and practices of communities worldwide (Balick & Cox, 2020). Overall, these internationally significant plant taxa serve as crucial components of global biodiversity and ne- cessitate concerted efforts for their conservation and sus- tainable management. Efforts to conserve internationally important plant taxa must focus on their ecological, eco- nomic and cultural value as well as their role in providing important ecosystem services and their contribution to global biodiversity (Heywood & Iriondo, 2003). These efforts should include measures such as the designation of protected areas, sustainable harvesting practices and bio- diversity conservation programs (Darbyshire et al., 2017). In addition, cooperation between nations is crucial to ensure effective conservation and management of these taxa, as their importance transcends national boundaries (Caldecott et al., 1996). Strategies for the conservation of internationally impor- tant plant taxa should also include the involvement of local communities and indigenous knowledge systems (Teixi- dor–Toneu et al., 2021). These communities often have valuable traditional knowledge and practices related to the use, management and conservation of these plants. Incor- porating their perspectives and experiences into conserva- tion efforts can increase their effectiveness and promote sustainable management practices. In addition, research and monitoring are essential to understand the dynam- ics and threats facing internationally important plant taxa. This knowledge can inform targeted conservation measures and adaptive management strategies to ensure their long–term survival. In summary, the conservation of internationally important plant taxa requires a multi– faceted approach that takes into account their ecological, economic and cultural value (Cannon et al., 2023). The conservation and protection of plant taxa of in- ternational importance are crucial for the conservation of biodiversity around the world. Over the past decades, various international agreements, conventions and regu- lations have been established to address the threats faced by these taxa and promote their sustainable management. The recognition of such plant taxa is often based on their ecological importance, rarity, endemism or vulnerability to extinction (Davies et al., 2011). Central to conservation efforts for these plant taxa are their designation and protection under various in- ternational frameworks. The Habitats Directive (HD), introduced by the European Union (EU), defines the conservation status of plant species based on their eco- logical requirements and conservation needs (European Commission, 1992). Different levels of protection and management apply to species falling under HD catego- ries II, IV and V, reflecting the diversity of conservation priorities. In addition, the Bern Convention (Council of Europe, 1979), an international treaty for the conserva- tion of European wildlife and natural habitats, designates certain plant species as strictly protected (Bern Con- vention category I) or as species requiring habitat con- servation measures (Resolution 6). These designations underline the importance of addressing both direct and indirect threats to plant species and their habitats. The EU Wildlife Trade Regulation plays a critical role in safe- guarding endangered species, conserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable trade practices within Europe and beyond (European Parliament, Council of the European Union, 1997). In addition, the Convention on Interna- tional Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates international trade of plant spe- cies to ensure their survival in the wild (CITES Secre- tariat, 2022). The species listed under CITES Appendices II and III, as well as those protected by EU regulations, are subject to strict controls to prevent over exploitation and unsustainable trade practices. In addition, the European Red List of Vascular Plants (Bilz et al., 2011) and the Red Book of vascular flora of the Republic of Kosovo (Millaku et al., 2013) serve as in- formation repositories for the conservation status of plant taxa in continental and local scales respectively, providing assessments of their extinction risk and serving as a guide for conservation measures. 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 97 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo Against this background, this work aims to comprehen- sively document the presence of plant taxa of international importance in Kosovo and to highlight their conservation status, threats and habitat characteristics. By integrating data from various international lists and inventories, with local floristic records, we aim to contribute to the ongoing efforts for the conservation and sustainable management of Kosovo’s botanical diversity. The main objectives of this study were: i. to identify and document the presence of plant taxa that hold international importance in Kosovo, ii. to provide a general overview of all taxa listed in dif- ferent international inventories and their importance, iii. to make the data on these plant taxa easily available and accessible to policy makers, conservationists, research- ers and the general public, and iv. to increase scientific knowledge on these taxa, including their ecology, distri- bution patterns, conservation and suggest the need for further studies. Material and methods The plant taxa of interest, their data collection and veri- fication included available data from various sources re- lated to plant distribution, population data and habitat preferences as well as known pressures. The checklists of internationally important plants were revised based on old as well as recent taxonomic updates of the flora of Kosovo (e.g. regional floras, Red Book of the Vascular Flora of Kosovo, numerous floristic publications, floris- tic atlases and herbarium vouchers deposited in the Her- barium of the FMNS of the University of Prishtina), with all entries validated. The core sources were the follow- ing: Krasniqi (1972, 1987), Rexhepi (1982, 1986, 1997, 2007), Rexhepi et al. (2005, 2009), Pajazitaj (1985), Krivošej (1989), Millaku (1999, 2001), Millaku et al. (2008, 2013, 2017), Krasniqi et al. (2019, 2020), Kras- niqi & Berisha (2023), Tomović et al. (2014), Djordjević et al. (2017), Niketić & Tomović (2018), Prodanović et al. (2020), Berisha et al. (2020a, 2020b, 2021), Mala (2010), etc. Each of the Annex lists of plant taxa of the respective directives, conventions and books (Habitats Directive, Bern Convention, CITES, EU Wildlife Trade Regula- tion, EU Red List and the Kosovo Red Book) was care- fully checked to determine whether the named taxa occur in Kosovo. If this was confirmed, further analytical steps were taken to obtain information on the plant taxa habi- tat type, the threats these plant taxa face in Kosovo and the exact location(s) from which they have been reported. Particular attention has been paid to the synonyms of plant taxa of interest, especially in old collections and ref- erences and the updated nomenclature of these. The last updated naming of taxa was based on the EuroMed plant database (Euro+Med, 2006+). All graphs and plots, were generated using R (version 4.3.2) in RStudio (2024). Results Based on a comprehensive analysis on plants of interna- tional importance present in the flora of Kosovo, we have identified a total of 59 plant taxa (Table 1). These taxa were carefully analyzed in terms of their ecological impor- tance, conservation status and potential threats, among other aspects. The identified plant taxa have a wide range of taxonomic affiliations (Figure 1) and are represented in several plant families. The Orchidaceae is the most im- portant family with 33 different plant taxa, which em- phasizes the importance of orchids in this context for the country. They are followed by the Amaryllidaceae with four plant taxa, while Liliaceae and Lycopodiaceae are each represented by three taxa. In addition, Compositae, Primulaceae and Ranunculaceae are represented by two plant taxa each, which emphasizes the presence of these families in the studied plant group. Together, these fami- lies make up a significant proportion of the total number of plant taxa identified. Orchidaceae taxa also dominate majority of conventions treated in this context (Figure 2). The Habitats Directive identifies a noteworthy presence of taxa from the Orchidaceae family, which leads with four taxa. This is followed by the Compositae and Lyco- podiaceae families, each represented by three taxa. Ad- ditionally, the Iridaceae and Scrophulariaceae families each have two taxa listed. The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Convention shows a marked predominance of the Orchidaceae family with an impressive 34 taxa. This dominance is indicative of the high conservation concern for orchids, which are heavily targeted by international trade. The Amaryllidaceae family is represented by three taxa, Primulaceae by two taxa, and Ranunculaceae by one taxon. The EU Wildlife Trade Regulation also reflects a significant emphasis on the Orchidaceae family, mir- roring CITES, with 35 taxa. The Amaryllidaceae family follows with three taxa, Primulaceae with two taxa, and taxa from Ericaceae, Gentianaceae, Lycopodiaceae, and Ranunculaceae each represented by a single taxon. The Bern Convention (Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats) exhibits a dif- ferent pattern of taxa richness. The Liliaceae family is most prominent with three taxa. The Orchidaceae and Rosaceae families follow, each represented by two taxa. Several other families, including those with significant ecological roles, are represented by a single taxon each. Consequently, the most dominant genera (Figure 3) 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 98 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo                                                           ­€‚ ƒ€                „  €­……ƒ€… … 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 No. of taxa Schrophulariaceae Rubiaceae Rosaceae Iridaceae Gesneriaceae Gentianaceae Ericaceae Cyperaceae Buxbaumiaceae Boraginaceae Ranunculaceae Primulaceae Compositae Lycopodiaceae Liliaceae Amaryllidaceae Orchidaceae Figure 1: Plant families of internationally important plant taxa and their number of taxa. Slika 1: Družine mednarodno pomembnih rastlinskih taksonov in njihovo število. are: Anacamptis, Dactylorhiza and Orchis (with 5 taxa, or 8.47% each), Epipactis and Gymnadenia (with 4 taxa, or 6.77% each), Fritillaria and Neottia (with 3 taxa, or 5.08%), and Galanthus, Cyclamen and Neotinea (with 2 taxa, or 3.38%). Other genera are represented by only one taxon each. Figure 2: International directives and conventions and their corresponding numbers of plant taxa of the main 5 families. Abbreviations: LYCO (Lycopodiaceae), COMP (Compositae), GENT (Gentianaceae), BORA (Boraginaceae), LILI (Liliaceae), AMAR (Amaryllidaceae), BUXB (Buxbaumiaceae), ORCH (Orchidaceae), PRIM (Primula), RANU (Ranunculaceae), ERIC (Ericaceae). Slika 2: Mednarodne direktive in konvencije ter število rastlinskih taksonov za glavnih pet družin. Okrajšave: LYCO (Lycopodiaceae), COMP (Compositae), GENT (Gentianaceae), BORA (Boraginaceae), LILI (Liliaceae), AMAR (Amaryllidaceae), BUXB (Buxbaumiaceae), ORCH (Orchidaceae), PRIM (Primula), RANU (Ranunculaceae), ERIC (Ericaceae). Anacamptis, 5 Dactylorhiza, 5 Orchis, 5 Epipactis, 4 Gymnadania, 4 Fritillaria, 3 Neottia, 3 Galanthus, 2 Cyclamen, 2 Neotinea, 2 Other (1 sp. each), 2 Figure 3: The most dominant genera of plants and their corresponding numbers of taxa. Slika 3: Prevladujoči rastlinski rodovi in število taksonov. 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 99 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo In terms of the total number of plant taxa listed in vari- ous international directives and conventions (Figure 4), we have observed that EU–B (species listed in CITES Appendix II, excluding species exempt by the EU) and CITES II (species not necessarily threatened with extinc- tion, but whose trade must be controlled to avoid utili- zation incompatible with their survival) each dominate with 39 taxa. They are followed by the strictly protected flora species of the Bern Convention (Appendix I), which includes 10 plant taxa present in Kosovo’s flora. The Hab- itats Directive Annexes IV (plant species of community interest in need of strict protection) and V (species whose populations must be managed to ensure their sustainable use) are represented by 6 taxa. They are followed by the Habitats Directive Annex II (species that require Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for their protection, ensur- ing that these species are given priority in habitat con- servation) that is represented by 5 taxa. Just as the Bern Convention (Resolution 6 – plant species requiring habi- tat conservation measures) is represented by 5 plant taxa in Kosovo. EU–D (species listed in Annex D of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations; not in CITES Appendices but monitored within the EU due to trade concerns) on the other hand is represented by 3 plant taxa in Kosovo. An additional analysis we conducted was to assess whether these taxa of international importance are al- ready included in the Red Lists or Red Books of flora in Europe and Kosovo. We found that 51 plant taxa of in- ternational importance from Kosovo are listed in the Eu- ropean Red List of Vascular Plants (Bilz et al., 2011), and 11 taxa are listed in the Red Book of Vascular Flora of Kosovo (Millaku et al., 2013) (Figure 5). It was interest- ing to observe the differences in the listings of taxa from different families and genera in various categories of the NT, 3 LC, 35 DD, 11 EN, 2 EN, 5 CR, 2 VU, 2 NT, 2 Not listed, 9 Not listed, 50 EUROPE KOSOVO Figure 5: Taxa of international importance in Kosovo and their proportional presence on the European Red List of Vascular Flora and the Kosovo Red Book of Vascular Flora. Slika 5: Mednarodno pomembni taksoni na Kosovu in njihov delež v Evropskem rdečem seznamu vaskularnih rastlin in Rdečem seznamu vaskularne flore Kosova. EU (D) Bern (Res6) HD (II) HD (V) HD (IV) Bern (I) EU (B) CITES 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 No. of taxa Figure 4: The treated Conventions and Directives of internationally important plants and the corresponding number of such plants for each directive accordingly. For abbreviations see Table 1. Slika 4: Obravnavane konvencije in direktive mednarodno pomembnih rastlin in njihovo število. Za okrajšave glej Tabelo 1. 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 100 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo four broadly defined habitat types. It should be noted that many plant taxa thrive in multiple adjacent habitats or in two or more different types of habitats. Therefore, this is a broad comparison of the main habitat types. Specifically, 35% of the taxa were recorded in forests and their fringes, 34% in wet grasslands, 26% in subalpine to alpine grass- lands, and 5% in shrubby vegetation and thickets. Red Books. In Kosovo, the total number of threatened taxa from this group of internationally important plants is higher compared to that in Europe. In Kosovo, the categories are as follows: Critically Endangered (CR) = 2 taxa, Endangered (EN) = 5 taxa, and Vulnerable (VU) = 2 taxa. In contrast, in Europe, from the same list of taxa, there are no taxa in the CR or VU categories, and only two taxa are classified as Endangered (EN). The Near Threatened (NT) category includes 3 taxa in Europe and 2 in Kosovo. A clear differentiation between the two listings is ob- served in the Data Deficient (DD) category, where in Europe, 11 taxa are categorized as DD, while no taxa fall into this category in Kosovo. Perhaps the most evident differentiation between the two listings exists in the Least Concern (LC) category. In Europe, from the same list, 35 plant taxa are categorized as LC, while only 9 are not list- ed. In Kosovo, none of the taxa fall into the LC category, whereas a significant 51 plant taxa are not listed. This dif- ferentiation is particularly evident in terms of plant taxa from the Orchidaceae family (Table 1). In Europe, among other taxa, 27 taxa from this family have had their popu- lation status evaluated as LC, while in Kosovo, they have not been evaluated at all, with the exception of Gymnad- enia frivaldii Hampe ex Griseb (NT). In terms of threats posed to these internationally im- portant plant taxa, it was found that habitat loss and fragmentation are leading threats, affecting a total of 26 taxa (Figure 6) just as equally so the collection of these plants in the wild for medicinal and ornamental purposes, which directly threatens 26 taxa. Other main pressures recorded include grazing (16 taxa), agriculture (12 taxa), urbanization and infrastructure development (12 taxa), and tourism (7 taxa), among other factors. When analyz- ing the main habitat types where these plant taxa have been recorded (Figure 7), it became clear that there are Figure 6: Threats posed to internationally important plant taxa. Slika 6: Grožnje mednarodno pomembnim rastlinskim taksonom. Figure 7: Main habitat types of internationally important plants in Kosovo. Slika 7: Glavni habitatni tipi, v katerih se pojavljajo mednarodno pomembni rastlinski taksoni na Kosovu. 0 5 10 15 20 25 No. of taxa Water abstraction & scarcity Invasive species Vegetation succession Climate change Tourism Urbanization & infrastructure Agriculture Grazing Collection (medicine & ornamental) Habitat loss & fragmentation Regarding the primary localities where these species have been reported (Table 1, Figure 8), it is evident that the majority originate from two National Parks in Ko- sovo: the Sharri Mountains and the Albanian Alps of Ko- sovo (Bjeshkët e Nemuna). These species are distributed across various mountains within these ranges. Addition- ally, other regions such as the mountain ranges in east- ern and central Kosovo, along with notable massifs like Pashtrik Mt., Koritnik Mt., Koznik Mt., Gërmia, Shalë e Bajgorës, and Jezercë, also exhibit a significant presence of internationally important plant taxa. Wet grasslands 34% Subalpine-alpine grasslands 26% Shrubby vegetation & thickets 5% Forests and its fringes 35% 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 101 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo Discussion The conservation of plant taxa of international impor- tance is a critical endeavor that requires comprehensive understanding and strategic intervention (Darwall & Vie, 2005). In Kosovo, a region known for its rich bo- tanical diversity, the conservation status, threats and habitat characteristics of internationally important plant taxa should be closely examined. This study addresses the occurrence of these taxa in Kosovo and highlights their ecological importance, conservation needs and distribu- tion patterns. This research aims to support informed conservation strategies and encourage dialogue among stakeholders involved in preserving Kosovo’s botanical heritage by highlighting the challenges and opportunities in conserving these plant species. While the high representation of the Orchidaceae fam- ily, with 33 different taxa, is particularly notable (Ta- ble 1), it should be acknowledged that the actual number of Orchidaceae taxa in Kosovo may be larger, while this figure reflects the data currently available to us. Orchids are valuable and protected under EU directives due to their ecological significance, role in biodiversity, and vul- nerability to habitat loss and illegal trade (Hinsley et al., 2017; Wraith et al., 2020). This dominance is consist- ent across various international frameworks, such as the Habitats Directive, CITES, and the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation, emphasizing the global conservation concern for orchids (Vitt et al., 2023). The significant presence of other families, such as Amaryllidaceae, Liliaceae, and Lycopodiaceae, further demonstrates the diverse taxo- nomic affiliations of Kosovo’s flora. The study reveals a substantial difference between the European Red List of Vascular Plants (Bilz et al., 2011) and the Red Book of Vascular Flora of Kosovo (Millaku et al., 2013) in terms of the conservation status of these taxa. In Kosovo, the higher number of taxa classified as Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable reflects a greater perceived threat level compared to Europe, where no taxa from this group are listed as Critically Endangered or Vulnerable. This discrepancy may also be attributed to local ecological pressures, limited conservation resources, or even differ- ences in assessment criteria. Habitat loss and fragmentation, known globally for being a primary threat to plant diversity (Zambrano et al., 2019), have emerged as the leading threats, affecting 26 taxa. Habitat destruction and fragmentation reduce the available living space for these plants, disrupting their growth and reproductive cycles. The pressures of wild plant collection for medicinal and ornamental purposes, grazing, agriculture, urbanization, and tourism also sig- nificantly impact these taxa. Over–exploitation through wild plant collection depletes natural populations, while grazing and agriculture alter and destroy habitats. Urban- ization and tourism contribute to habitat encroachment and degradation. These findings just confirm the global patterns of biodiversity loss, where habitat destruction and over–exploitation are primary drivers (Hoffmeister et al., 2005; Wilkinson et al., 2018; Berisha & Geci, 2023), highlighting the urgent need for effective conservation strategies. The categorization of plant taxa listed in various in- ternational directives and conventions provides crucial insights into their conservation status and the measures required to ensure their survival. Our results indicate that EU–B (species listed in CITES Appendix II, excluding species exempt by the EU) and CITES II (species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but whose trade must be controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival) dominate, each with 39 taxa. This promi- nence underscores the significant international concern regarding the trade and exploitation of these species, Figure 8: Distribution of internationally important plant taxa across major mountain ranges and regions in Kosovo. Slika 8: Razširjenost mednarodno pomembnih rastlinskih taksonov v glavnih gorskih verigah in območjih na Kosovu. Morinë Istogu Mts. Pashtrik Mt. Koritnik Mt. Central Kosovo Mushtisht Mts. Northern Kosovo Eastern Kosovo Albanian Alps of Kosovo Sharri Mts. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 No. of taxa 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 102 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo emphasizing the need for stringent regulation to prevent their decline (Bruckner et al., 2003). The inclusion of 10 plant taxa in the strictly protected flora species of the Bern Convention (Appendix I) high- lights the critical need for strict conservation measures within Europe. These taxa are recognized for their vulner- ability and the necessity for stringent protection to ensure their continued existence (Díaz, 2010). The Habitats Directive further categorizes plant species into Annexes IV and V, represented by 6 taxa, and An- nex II, represented by 5 taxa. Annex II includes species of community interest whose conservation requires the des- ignation of Special Areas of Conservation, reflecting the importance of habitat preservation and targeted conserva- tion efforts. Annex IV lists species that need strict protec- tion, indicating the high level of threat they face, while Annex V covers species whose taking in the wild and ex- ploitation may be subject to management measures, sug- gesting a more balanced approach between conservation and sustainable use. Additionally, the Bern Convention (Resolution 6) includes 5 plant taxa that require habitat conservation measures. This highlights the necessity for habitat preservation as a key strategy in the conservation (Fenu et al., 2016) of these species, ensuring that their nat- ural environments are protected and managed effectively. These categorizations not only reflect the varying levels of threat faced by different plant species but also illustrate the comprehensive approach needed for their conserva- tion. By aligning with international directives and con- ventions, we can implement informed conservation strat- egies (Rosendal, 2000; Armitage et al., 2020) that address both the direct and indirect threats to these taxa. This framework allows for a coordinated effort among stake- holders to promote biodiversity and sustain the botanical heritage of Kosovo. The analysis of habitat types reveals that these plant taxa are predominantly found in forests and their fringes (35%), wet grasslands (34%), and subalpine to alpine grasslands (26%). This distribution highlights the im- portance of conserving diverse habitat types to ensure the survival of these taxa (Millaku et al., 2013, 2017; Berisha et al., 2020a). As for the implications for conservation strategies, the results underscore the importance of integrating local and international conservation efforts (Cunningham, 1994). The discrepancies between local and European conserva- tion statuses suggest that localized assessments are crucial for accurately determining the threat levels and conser- vation needs of plant taxa. Additionally, the significant number of taxa not listed in Kosovo’s Red Book points to gaps in local conservation efforts and the need for up- dated assessments. Conservation strategies should prioritize habitat protec- tion and restoration (Possingham et al., 2015), given the critical role of habitat loss and fragmentation in driving plant taxa declines. Protected areas should be expanded and effectively managed, particularly in regions identified as critical habitats for these taxa. Engaging local commu- nities in conservation efforts is essential. These communi- ties possess valuable traditional knowledge regarding the use and management of plant species, which can enhance conservation outcomes. Further research is needed to fill knowledge gaps re- garding the ecology, distribution, and population dynam- ics of these plant taxa. Long–term monitoring programs are essential to track changes in plant populations and assess the effectiveness of conservation measures. Studies focusing on the impact of climate change on these taxa would provide insights into future conservation challeng- es and inform adaptive management strategies. The following species exhibited highly restricted distri- butions, often confined to a single locality and charac- terized by small population sizes: Anacamptis coriophora, Anacamptis palustris, Buxbaumia viridis, Epipactis palus- tris, Fritillaria graeca, Galium rhodopeum, Goodyera repens, Gymnadenia odoratissima, Neottia ovata, Orchis simia, Ra- nunculus fontanus, Spiranthes aestivalis, and Sternbergia colchiciflora. Between 1993 and 2013, the populations of Gentiana lutea in Kosovo, which comprises two subspecies (G. lu- tea subsp. lutea and G. lutea subsp. symphiandra), experi- enced a decline exceeding 30% due to the harvesting of rhizomes for trade purposes (Millaku, 1993, 1999, 2013). Conclusions The findings of this study highlight the rich diversity of internationally important plant taxa present in Kosovo, underscoring the region’s significant botanical value. With a total of 59 identified taxa, this study provides a compre- hensive overview of the conservation status, threats, and habitat characteristics of these plants. In conclusion, the conservation of internationally im- portant plant taxa in Kosovo requires a multifaceted ap- proach that integrates habitat protection, sustainable use practices, community involvement, and robust scientific research. By addressing the identified threats and enhanc- ing conservation efforts, it is possible to safeguard the rich botanical diversity of Kosovo for future generations. ORCID iDs Fadil Millaku  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9392-9702 Elez Krasniqi  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5899-6571 Naim Berisha  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4715-0263 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 103 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo N o. Fa m ily Sp ec ie s ▼ H D Be rn C IT ES EU R L (E U -X K )Th re at (s ) p os ed H ab ita t d es cr ip tio n Lo ca lit ie s i n K os ov o 1 R an un cu la ce ae Ad on is ve rn al is L. - - II B LC - EN C ol le ct io n du e to it s m ed ic in al an d de co ra tiv e pr op er tie s, or es X er op hi lo us fo re st ed ge s, dr y m ea do w s G ër m i ( Pr ish tin ë) , G az im es ta n, G l- la re vë , B ur oj ë, G lla m ë (G jil an ) 2 O rc hi da ce ae An ac am pt is co rio ph or a (L .) R . M . B at em an & a l. - - II B LC - H ab ita t c on ve rs io n an d de gr a- da tio n, a gr ic ul tu re a nd d ef or - es ta tio n W et m ea do w s a nd w oo d- la nd e dg es p ro ne to fl oo d- in g, p re fe ra bl e ov er sl ig ht ly ac id ic so ils Sh ar ri M ts. (M aj a e Ze zë ) 3 O rc hi da ce ae An ac am pt is la xi flo ra (L am .) R . M . B at em an & a l. - - II B LC - W at er a bs tr ac tio n fo r a gr ic ul - tu re a nd u rb an iza tio n, c ol le c- tio n W et p as tu re s a nd m ar sh es , fu ll su nl ig ht sl op es Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o (B je sh kë t e D eç an it) , F er iza j 4 O rc hi da ce ae An ac am pt is m or io (L .) R . M . B at em an & a l. - - II B N T - Re du ct io n in h ab ita t q ua lit y, ag ric ul tu re , i nd us tr ia l d ev el op - m en t, gr az in g, c ol le ct io n du e to it s m ed ic in al p ro pe rt ie s Br oa d ec ol og ic al to le ra nc e: fo re st fri ng es , s ub al pi ne - al pi ne g ra ss la nd s, al ka lin e ric h so ils , Sh ar ri M ts. (L ub ot en ), M al et e Je ze rc it, M al et e M us ht ish tit , G ër - m i, Is to g, G ol es h, A lb an ia n Al ps of K os ov o (B je sh kë t e R ug ov ës ), D ra ga sh , K or itn ik , w d+ 5 O rc hi da ce ae An ac am pt is pa lu str is (J ac q. ) R . M . B at em an & a l. - - II B - C ol le ct io n fo r o rn am en ta l p ur - po se s, ag ric ul tu re , c ol le ct io n du e to it s m ed ic in al p ro pe rt ie s W et p as tu re s a nd m ar sh es , fu ll su nl ig ht sl op es Sh ar ri M ts. (L ub ot en ) 6 O rc hi da ce ae An ac am pt is pa pi lio na ce a (L .) R . M . B at em an & a l. - - II B LC - G ra zin g, a gr ic ul tu re , ur ba ni za - tio n, fi re s, co lle ct io n du e to it s m ed ic in al p ro pe rt ie s Ro ck y gr as sla nd s, po or so il gr as sla nd s a nd m ea do w s - fu ll su nl ig ht sl op es G ër m i ( Pr ish tin ë) , I bë r r iv er b an ks (M itr ov ic ë) , S ha lë e B aj go rë s, M al et e Je ze rc it, S ha rr i M ts. (L um - ba rd hi i Pr izr en it) 7 Er ic ac ea e Ar cto sta ph ylo s u va -u rsi (L .) Sp re ng . - - - D LC - C ol le ct io n du e to it s m ed ic in al pr op er tie s. Ve ry v al ue d sp ec ie s D ry (c al ca re ou s & se rp en - tin e) g ra ss la nd s o f l ar ge M t. m as sif s Sh ar ri M ts. , P as ht rik , K or itn ik ,m al et e M us ht ish tit (P as ha lla re , B al kë ) A lb an ia n Al ps of K os ov o, B je sh kë t e Is to gu t, K op ao ni k M t. (B aj ra ku ) 8 C om po sit ae Ar te m isi a um be lli fo rm is su bs p. er ia nt ha (T en .) Va llè s- X ira u & O liv a Br añ as V - - - EN Sk iin g, c yc lin g, to ur ism – h ab i- ta t d eg ra da tio n Si lic eo us ro ck y slo pe s a nd cr ev ic es Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o (G je r- av ic ë) , S ha rr i M ts. (L ub ot en , L iv a- dh ish të , S ht ëp i e M al or ëv e) 9 Bu xb au m ia ce ae Bu xb au m ia v iri di s (M ou g. e x La m . & D C .) Br id . e x M ou g. & N es tl. II I - - - H yd ro gr ap hi c ch an ge s, tre es re m ai n dr y an d th er ef or e ar e in ad eq ua te fo r t he ir gr ow th W et ro tti ng sp ru ce fo re sts - ov er fe lle d tre es in d iff er en t sta ge s o f d ec om po sit io n Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o (L um ba r- dh i i D eç an it) Ta bl e 1: O ve rv ie w o f i nt er na tio na lly im po rt an t p la nt ta xa o f K os ov o. Ta be la 1 : P re gl ed m ed na ro dn o po m em bn ih ra sli ns ki h ta ks on ov n a K os ov u. 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 104 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo N o. Fa m ily Sp ec ie s ▼ H D Be rn C IT ES EU R L (E U -X K )Th re at (s ) p os ed H ab ita t d es cr ip tio n Lo ca lit ie s i n K os ov o 10 C yp er ac ea e C ar ex a cu ta L . - Re s6 - - LC - H ab ita t d ra in ag e an d lo ss W et m ea do w s a nd a lo ng la ke s. K op ao ni k, V iti 11 Pr im ul ac ea e Cy cla m en h ed er ifo liu m Ai to n - - II B - C ol le ct io n an d ha bi ta t l os s d ue to a gr ic ul tu ra l e xp an sio n, a nd la nd d ev el op m en t. O n ric h hu m us so ils , sh ad ed fo re sts . W oo dl an ds C en tr al K os ov o (L ip ov ic ë) a nd N or th K os ov o (B ra bo ni q, Ç u- br el ), G jil an , K aç an ik , M al ës ia e G ja ko vë s, Sh ar ri M ts. ,M al et e M us ht ish tit , K or itn ik (V la sh nj e) Pa sh tr ik a nd A lb an ia n Al ps o f K os ov o, M al et e Is to gu t) w d+ 12 Pr im ul ac ea e Cy cla m en p ur pu ra sce ns M ill . - - II B - O ve r- co lle ct io n an d ha bi ta t lo ss Sh ru bb y ve ge ta tio n an d de ci du ou s f or es ts. W oo d- la nd s V iti , A lb an ia n Al ps o f K os ov o 13 O rc hi da ce ae D ac ty lo rh iz a co rd ig er a su bs p. b os ni ac a (B ec k) S oó - - II B LC - C ol le ct io n an d ha bi ta t l os s, ov er gr az in g W et g ra ss la nd s, ar ou nd str ea m s - m on ta ne & su b- al pi ne b el ts Sh ar ri M ts. (B ro d, L ub ot en , K ob il- ic ë, O sh la k) 14 O rc hi da ce ae D ac ty lo rh iz a co rd ig er a (F r.) So ó su bs p. co rd ig er a - - II B LC - C ol le ct io n du e to it s m ed ic in al pr op er tie s a nd h ab ita t l os s, sc at te re d po pu la tio ns W et g ra ss la nd s, ro un d str ea m s - m on ta ne & su b- al pi ne b el ts Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o (J ab lla n- ic ë, G je ra vi cë ), Sh ar ri M ts. (P iri - br eg , B re zo vi cë , O sh la k) , P as ha lla re (K ro ni i Al isë ) 15 O rc hi da ce ae D ac ty lo rh iz a in ca rn at a (L .) So ó su bs p. in ca rn at a - - II B LC - H ab ita t l os s d ue to a gr ic ul tu ra l ex pa ns io n W et m ea do w s, al on g w at er lo gg ed fo re st ed ge s, lo w la nd -to m on ta ne Is to g, A rt an ë, K aç an ik , A lb an ia n Al ps o f K os ov o (R ug ov ë) , S ha rr i M ts. (O sh la k, M aj a e Ze zë ) 16 O rc hi da ce ae D ac ty lo rh iz a m ac ul at a (L .) So ó - - II B LC - H ab ita t l os s d ue to a gr ic ul tu re , ur ba ni za tio n an d in fra str uc tu re D ry a nd w et fo re st m ea d- ow s ( co ni fe ro us a nd d e- ci du ou s) – fr om lo w la nd to a lp in e Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o, S ha rr i M ts. , M al et e M us ht ish tit (P as ha l- la re ), Pa sh tr ik , K or itn ik , K op ao ni k, w d+ 17 O rc hi da ce ae D ac ty lo rh iz a sa cc ife ra (B ro ng n. ) S oó - - II B LC - H ab ita t l os s d ue to a gr ic ul tu re , ur ba ni za tio n an d in fra str uc tu re W et la nd s a dj ac en t t o th e th er m op hi lo us fo re sts Sh al ë e Ba jg or ës , J ez er cë , K or itn ik 18 Ly co po di ac ea e D ip ha sia str um a lp in um (L .) H ol ub V - - - - E N Sm al l a nd fr ag m en te d po pu la - tio ns Su ba lp in e to a lp in e m ea d- ow s ( sil ic at e) Sh ar ri M ts. a nd A lb an ia n Al ps o f K os ov o 19 O rc hi da ce ae Ep ip ac tis a tro ru be ns (H off m .) Be ss er - - II B LC - Li m ite d di str ib ut io n, fr ag ile po pu la tio ns D ec id uo us w oo dl an ds , w oo dl an d ed ge s, an d sc ru - bl an d Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o (L iq en at , K op riv ni k) , S ha rr i M ts. (K ob ili cë ), M al et e M us ht ish tit (P as ha lla rë ) 20 O rc hi da ce ae Ep ip ac tis h ell eb or in e ( L. ) C ra nt z s ub sp . h ell eb or in e - - II B LC - H ab ita t d ra in ag e, d ef or es ta tio n an d gr az in g M ed io -E ur op ea n lim es to ne be ec h fo re sts o f t he C ep ha la nt he ro -F ag io n Sh ar ri M ts. a nd A lb an ia n Al ps of K os ov o, M al et e M us ht ish tit (P as ha lla re ) 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 105 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo N o. Fa m ily Sp ec ie s ▼ H D Be rn C IT ES EU R L (E U -X K )Th re at (s ) p os ed H ab ita t d es cr ip tio n Lo ca lit ie s i n K os ov o 21 O rc hi da ce ae Ep ip ac tis m icr op hy lla (E hr h. ) S w. - - II B N T - U se o f h er bi ci de s, lim ite d di s- tr ib ut io n, fr ag ile p op ul at io ns M ed io -E ur op ea n lim es to ne be ec h fo re sts o f t he C ep ha la nt he ro -F ag io n Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o (L um ba r- dh i i D eç an it, M ar ja sh , B je sh ka e Be le gu t) 22 O rc hi da ce ae Ep ip ac tis p al us tri s ( L. ) C ra nt z - - II B LC - Li m ite d di str ib ut io n, a gr ic ul - tu re , g ra zin g Al ka lin e fe ns . F or es t w et m ea do w s, fro m m on ta ne to su ba lp in e re gi on s Sh ar ri M ts. (R es te lic ë, D ra ga sh ) 23 Li lia ce ae Fr iti lla ria g ra ec a Bo iss . & Sp ru ne r - I - - D D - C R C ol lec tio n du e t o its o rn am en ta l pr op er tie s, lim ite d di str ib ut io n C al ca re ou s t hi ck et s a nd ro ck y gr as sla nd s Pa sh tr ik 24 Li lia ce ae Fr iti lla ria g us sic hi ae (D eg en & D ör fl. ) R ix IV I - - D D - Li m ite d di str ib ut io n, c ol le ct io n by b ot an ist s & d ue to it s o rn a- m en ta l p ro pe rt ie s C al ca re ou s t hi ck et s a nd ro ck y gr as sla nd s D om or ov c (K am en ic ë) , G ju rg je vi k (K aç an ik ) 25 Li lia ce ae Fr iti lla ria m on ta na W . D . J . K oc h - I - - D D - H ab ita t l os s d ue to in fra str uc - tu re a nd u rb an iza tio n M ea do w s, sp ar se ly v eg et at - ed g ra ss la nd s a nd th ic ke ts Ar ta në , M itr ov ic e, G ol es h, Pr ish tin e, A lb an ia n Al ps (G ub av c) , Sh ar ri M ts. 26 Am ar yl lid ac ea e G al an th us el w esi i H oo k. f. - - II B D D - C ol le ct io n fo r m ed ic in al a nd de co ra tiv e pu rp os es . V er y sm al l po pu la tio n - s en sit iv e ha bi ta ts Su ba lp in e w et m ea do w s Sh ar ri M ts. (V ra cë , D ra ga sh ) 27 Am ar yl lid ac ea e G al an th us n iv al is L. V - II B N T - C ol le ct io n du e to it s o rn am en - ta l p ro pe rt ie s Fo re st ed ge s a nd c le ar in gs , su ba lp in e. G ër m i, M al i D re ni cë , V iti , A rt an ë, Je ze rc , K or itn ik , K oz ni k, R ad ip oj ë, Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o, M al et e M us ht ish tit , S ha rr i M ts. , w d+ 28 Ru bi ac ea e G al iu m rh od op eu m Ve le n. - I - - D D - C R O ve rg ra zin g, ro ad c on str uc tio n Ro ck y slo pe s, fo re st ed ge s, an d op en m ea do w s, ca l- ca re ou s, se rp en tin e ro ck y gr as sla nd s Ar ta në 29 G en tia na ce ae G en tia na lu te a L. V - - D LC - V U U nc on tro lle d co lle ct io n du e to its m ed ic in al p ro pe rt ie s Pa stu re s, rid ge s, ro ck y slo pe s, th ic ke ts - u p to 25 00 m a .s. l. Pa sh tr ik , K or itn ik , M al et e M us ht ish tit (P as ha lla re ), K op a- on ik , A lb an ia n Al ps o f K os ov o, Bj es hk ët e Is to gu t, Sh ar ri M ts. 30 Ro sa ce ae G eu m b ul ga ric um Pa nč ić - I - - LC - N T C ol le ct io n, li m ite d di str ib ut io n an d sm al l p op ul at io ns , fi re s Ro ck y sit es a nd c re vi ce s o f su ba lp in e an d al pi ne b el ts Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o (Z h- le b, R us ol i, Li qe na t, Bj es hk ë e Lu m ëb ar dh it, B og ë, K op riv ni k, H aj lë , M aj a e V je lla ku t) 31 Ir id ac ea e G la di ol us p al us tri s G au di n II /I V Re s6 - - D D - EN Th re at en ed b y m ow in g, g ra z- in g, p ol lu tio n by fe rt ili ze rs a nd pe sti ci de s, co ns tr uc tio n W et m ea do w s a nd th ic ke ts Sh ar ri M ts. (B re zo vi cë , K ox ha Ba lk an ), Je ze rc , K or itn ik , K oz ni k, R ad ip oj ë, N ov o Bë rd (L la bj an ), D ra ga sh (L lo pu sh ni k) 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 106 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo N o. Fa m ily Sp ec ie s ▼ H D Be rn C IT ES EU R L (E U -X K )Th re at (s ) p os ed H ab ita t d es cr ip tio n Lo ca lit ie s i n K os ov o 32 O rc hi da ce ae G oo dy er a re pe ns (L .) R . B r. - - II B LC - C ol le ct io n, li m ite d di str ib ut io n an d sm al l p op ul at io ns In sh ad ed fo re sts (c on ife r- ou s a nd d ec id uo us ) i n w et ha bi ta ts an d al on g str ea m s Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o (L um ba r- dh i i P ej ës ) 33 O rc hi da ce ae G ym na de ni a co no ps ea (L .) R . B r. - - II B LC - H ab ita t l os s a nd fr ag m en ta - tio n, c lim at e ch an ge W et g ra ss la nd s ( sil ic at e & ca lc ar eo us ), sc ru bs Sh ar ri M ts. (V ër to p) , A lb an ia n Al ps o f K os ov o, Je ze rc , M al et e M us ht ish tit (P as ha lla re ), M or in ë, Pa sh tr ik D ob ër do l, M iru sh ë, C ar ra le vë , K or itn ik . 34 O rc hi da ce ae G ym na de ni a fri va ld ii H am pe e x G ris eb . - - II B LC - N T H ab ita t l os s a nd fr ag m en ta - tio n, g ra zin g, O lig o- to m es ot ro ph ic m ire s, fe ns a nd w et la nd s o f th e m on ta ne a nd su ba lp in e be lts o f m ou nt ai n m as sif s Sh ar ri M ts. , A lb an ia n Al ps of K os ov o, B je sh kë t e Is to gu t (M ok na ) 35 O rc hi da ce ae G ym na de ni a ni gr a (L .) R ch b. f. - - II B LC - H ab ita t l os s a nd fr ag m en ta - tio n, c lim at e ch an ge C al ca re ou s, ro ck y gr as sla nd s o f s ub al pi ne to al pi ne b el ts K op ao ni k (B aj ra k) , S ha lë e Ba jg or ës , S ha rr i M ts. , M al et e M us ht ish tit (B al ke B je sh kë t e Q e- ha je s) A lb an ia n Al ps o f K os ov o, w d+ 36 O rc hi da ce ae G ym na de ni a od or at iss im a (L .) R ic h. - - II B LC - To ur ism , r ec re at io n, g ra zin g Si lic at e w et g ra ss la nd s, sc ru b, su ba lp in e be lt Sh ar ri M ts. (M aj a e Ze zë ) 37 Ly co po di ac ea e H up er zi a sel ag o (L .) Sc hr an k & M ar t. V - - - EN G ra zin g, in fra str uc tu re , t ou r- ism & re cr ea tio na l a ct iv iti es Sp ru ce fo re sts , t hi ck et s, fir -s pr uc e- be ec h fo re sts (s ub al pi ne to a lp in e) , Al pi ne a nd B or ea l h ea th s Sh ar ri M ts. , ( Sh ut m an , V ra cë , Ru do kë ), Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o (G je ra vi cë ) 38 C om po sit ae Kl as ea ly co pi fo lia (V ill .) Á. L öv e & D . L öv e II /I V Re s6 - - D D - H ab ita t c on ve rs io n to a ra bl e la nd s - e xc es siv e gr az in g Fo re st ed ge s ( dr y oa k fo re sts ). w et g ra ss la nd s a nd m ea do w s Pr ish tin ë, K ije vë , P od uj ev ë, Sh tim e, G llo go vc (D ob ro sh ec ), Pa sh tr ik 39 O rc hi da ce ae Li m od or um a bo rt iv um (L .) Sw . - - II B LC - In fra str uc tu re , o ve r- co lle ct io n, gr az in g, h ab ita t f ra gm en ta tio n M on ta ne p as tu re sl op es an d pi ne fo re st cl ea rin gs an d vi ci ni tie s, Pa nn on ia n w oo ds w ith Q ue rc us p u- be sce ns Ib ër ri ve r b an ks (M itr ov ic ë) , Al ba ni an A lp s (G ry ka e R ug ov ës , K op riv ni k, M aj a e V je lla ku t), Fi ra jë (f oo th ill o f L ub ot en M t.) , Lu bo te n M t. 40 Ly co po di ac ea e Ly co po di um cl av at um L . V - - D LC - H ab ita t l os s & d eg ra da tio n, po pu la tio n de cl in es Te m pe ra te F or es ts an d W oo dl an ds (c on ife ro us an d de ci du ou s f or es ts) – H ea th y ve ge ta tio n an d co ni fe ro us fo re sts v ic in i- tie s, m oi st or sl ig ht ly d ry gr as sla nd s Sh ar ri M ts. (K ob ili cë , M aj a e Ze zë ), Sh al ë e Ba jg or ës 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 107 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo N o. Fa m ily Sp ec ie s ▼ H D Be rn C IT ES EU R L (E U -X K )Th re at (s ) p os ed H ab ita t d es cr ip tio n Lo ca lit ie s i n K os ov o 41 Am ar yl lid ac ea e N ar cis su s p oe tic us su bs p. ra di ifl or us (S al isb .) Ba ke r - I - - D D - EN O ve r- co lle ct io n – du e to it s or na m en ta l p ro pe rt ie s W et m ea do w s o f l ow la nd to m ou nt ai n re gi on s K aç an ik , D um ni cë , F er iza j, Ar ta në , D ob ro sh ec , F us hë K os ov ë, Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o (M aj a e V je lla ku t, Ll az B el lo pa ç, R ug ov ë) , Br ez ov ic ë, w d+ 42 O rc hi da ce ae N eo tti a co rd at a (L .) R ic h. - - II B LC - D ef or es ta tio n, fi re s, gr az in g W oo dl an ds a nd fo re sts / W et g ra ss la nd s, pe at b og s, m os sy g ro un d un de r p in e tre es (a ci di c so ils ) Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o 43 O rc hi da ce ae N eo tti a ni du s-a vi s ( L. ) R ic h. - - II B LC - In fra str uc tu re d ev el op m en t, co lle ct io n, h ab ita t f ra gm en ta - tio n, fi re s C al ca re ou s w et la nd s a nd cl ea rin gs in sid e be ec h fo re sts , c on ife r f or es ts an d m ix ed b ro ad le av ed fo re sts M al et e M us ht ish tit , I bë r r iv er ba nk s ( M itr ov ic ë) 44 O rc hi da ce ae N eo tti a ov at a (L .) Bl uff & F in ge rh . - - II B LC - To ur ism a nd re cr ea tio n, d ef or - es ta tio n W et g ra ss la nd s, fe ns a nd sh ru bs . S lig ht ly a ci di c so ils G ër m i ( Pr ish tin ë) 45 O rc hi da ce ae N eo tin ea tr id en ta ta (S co p. ) R . M . B at em an & a l. - - II B - Pl an t c ol le ct io n, e co lo gi ca l s uc - ce ss io n, c lim at e ch an ge W et g ra ss la nd s a nd a lo ng fo re st ed ge s G ër m i ( Pr ish tin ë) , S ha rr i M ts. (L ub ot en ), M al et e M us ht ish tit (R us en ic ë) , A lb an ia n Al ps o f K os o- vo , B je sh kë t e Is to gu t ( R ad us hë ) 46 O rc hi da ce ae N eo tin ea u stu la ta (L .) R . M . B at em an & a l. - - II B - Ag ric ul tu ra l i nt en sifi ca tio n, co lle ct io n, to ur ism , i nf ra str uc - tu re d ev el op m en t Al lu vi al m ea do w s, fo re st ed ge s, m ar sh la nd K or itn ik , K ol as hi ni i vj et ër (M itr o- vi cë ), G ër m i ( Pr ish tin ë) , K oz ni k, M al et e M us ht ish tit 47 O rc hi da ce ae O ph ry s a pi fer a H ud s. - - II B LC - Pl an t c ol le ct io n, u rb an iza tio n, to ur ism Fo re st ed ge s ( de ci du ou s an d pi ne fo re sts ), gr as s- la nd s a nd fo re st cl ea rin gs G ër m i ( Pr ish tin ë) , L ep os av iq (I bë r riv er b an ks ), Sh ar ri M ts. (O sh la k) , Bj es hk ët e Is to gu t ( M bi S yn e) 48 O rc hi da ce ae O rc hi s m as cu la su bs p. sp ec io sa (M ut el ) H eg i - - II B LC - H ab ita t f ra gm en ta tio n, u rb an - iza tio n, g ra zin g Ro ck y m ou nt ai n le dg es , de ci du ou s w oo dl an d ed ge s G ër m i ( Pr ish tin ë) , I bë r ( M itr ov ic ë) 49 O rc hi da ce ae O rc hi s m ili ta ris L . - - II B LC - D ec lin in g po pu la tio n du e to ov er gr az in g, v eg et at io n su c- ce ss io n D ry g ra ss la nd s, sc ru b ve ge ta tio n, fo re st ed ge s M al et e M us ht ish tit (B aq ev c) , K ol as hi ni i vj et ër (M itr ov ic ë) 50 O rc hi da ce ae O rc hi s p al len s L . - - II B LC - U rb an iza tio n an d in fra str uc - tu re e xp an sio n, d ef or es ta tio n, cl im at e ch an ge M ou nt ai n to a lp in e gr as s- la nd s, sc ru b, fo re st ed ge s Sh ar ri M ts. , G ër m i ( Pr ish tin ë) 51 O rc hi da ce ae O rc hi s p ur pu re a H ud s. - - II B LC - C ol le ct io n of th e tu be r f or th e pr od uc tio n of sa le p, u rb an iza - tio n, to ur ism , i nf ra str uc tu re Ro ck y gr as sla nd s, sc ru b ve ge ta tio n, a lk al in e to ne ut ra l s oi ls G ër m i ( Pr ish tin ë) , S ha rr i M ts. (L ub ot en , M aj a e Ze zë , B ist ër ), M us ht ish t M ts. 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 108 Millaku et al. An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo N o. Fa m ily Sp ec ie s ▼ H D Be rn C IT ES EU R L (E U -X K )Th re at (s ) p os ed H ab ita t d es cr ip tio n Lo ca lit ie s i n K os ov o 52 O rc hi da ce ae O rc hi s s im ia L am . - - II B LC - C ol le ct io n of th e tu be r, ag ri- cu ltu re , u rb an iza tio n D ry g ra ss la nd s a nd sc ru - bl an d ve ge ta tio n, d ry to sli gh tly w et c on di tio ns G ër m i ( Pr ish tin ë) 53 O rc hi da ce ae Pl at an th er a bi fo lia (L .) L. C . M . R ic ha rd . - - II B LC - U rb an a nd in fra str uc tu re d ev el - op m en t, gr az in g, c ol le ct io n G ra ss la nd s o f s ub al pi ne be lt, sh ru bb y ve ge ta tio n, ro ck y gr as sla nd s - si lic at e G ol es h, S ha rr i M ts. (M aj a e Ze zë , L ub ot en ), K or itn ik , M al et e M us ht ish it (D ol lo c, M an as tir ), Pa sh tr ik (V la sh nj e, K us hn in ), Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o 54 Bo ra gi na ce ae Po nt ec hi um m ac ul at um (L .) Bö hl e & H ilg e (= Ec hi um ru br um Ja cq .) II /I V Re s6 - - - H ab ita t l os s d ue to u rb an iza - tio n, a ffo re sta tio n, in va siv e sp ec ie s Al on g- ro ad s, in th e m ou n- ta in b el t Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o, P as ht rik , G ol es h, K aç an ik , M or in ë, Q af ë Pr us h, R aj on i i M iru sh es , K oz ni k, K ra m ov ik 55 G es ne ria ce ae Ra m on da se rb ica P an či ć IV I - - LC - V U Th e us e of p la nt s f or sc ie nt ifi c or h or tic ul tu ra l p ur po se s C al ca re ou s r oc ky sl op es w ith c ha sm op hy tic v eg et a- tio n Pa sh tr ik , S ha rr i M ts. , M al et e M us ht ish tit (G ry ka e R us en ic ës ) Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o 56 R an un cu la ce ae Ra nu nc ul us fo nt an us C . P re sl - I - - D D - H ab ita t c on ve rs io n to a ra bl e la nd s – d ra in in g, a gr ic ul tu re W at er lo gg ed m ea do w s Sh ar ri M ts. (L ub ot en - Tu pa n) 57 O rc hi da ce ae Sp ira nt he s a est iv al is (P oi r.) R ic h. - - II B D D - W et la nd s d ra in in g an d in fra - str uc tu re d ev el op m en t W et a nd w at er lo gg ed m ea do w s a nd fo re sts Al ba ni an A lp s o f K os ov o (L um ba r- dh i i P ej ës ) 58 Am ar yl lid ac ea e St er nb er gi a co lch ici flo ra W al ds t. & K it. - - II B LC - N at ur al su cc es sio n, th e in va - sio n of R ob in ia sp . a nd A ila n- th us sp ., ur ba ni za tio n Ro ck y ca lc ar eo us g ra ss la nd s Fs ha jë (D rin i i b ar dh ë C an yn on ) 59 Sc ro ph ul ar ia ce ae To zz ia a lp in a su bs p. ca rp at hi ca (W oł .) Pa w ł. II /I V Re s6 - - D D - EN Se ns iti ve m ire h ab ita ts, w ea k w at er in flo w, p ea t h ab ita t de gr ad at io n W et h ab ita ts an d al on g riv ul et s i n su ba lp in e- al pi ne be lts o f t he m ou nt ai ns Sh ar ri M ts. , A lb an ia n Al ps o f K os ov o Ex pl an at or y no te s: ▼ in di ca te s t ha t t he ta bl e fo llo w s t he a lp ha be tic al o rd er o f t ax a, H D - H ab ita t D ire ct iv e, B er n - B er n C on ve nt io n, C IT ES - C ite s C on ve nt io n (th e C on ve nt io n on In te rn at io na l T ra de in E nd an ge re d Sp ec ie s o f W ild F au na an d Fl or a) , E U - EU R eg ul at io n on th e p ro te ct io n of sp ec ie s o f w ild fa un a a nd fl or a, R L (E U – X K ) - L ist ed an d as se ss ed in th e Eu ro pe an R ed L ist o f V as cu la r P la nt s – B ilz e t a l. 20 11 a nd in th e Re d Bo ok o f V as cu la r F lo ra o f t he R ep ub lic o f K os ov o – M ill ak u, e t a l. 20 13 ), th e sm al l n ot e “w d+ ” in th e co lu m n of lo ca lit ie s i nd ic at es th at th e re sp ec tiv e ta xa is w id es pr ea d in K os ov o. EU (D ) – S pe ci es li ste d in A nn ex D o f t he E U W ild lif e T ra de R eg ul at io ns ; B er n (R es 6) – S pe ci es co ve re d by th e B er n C on ve nt io n (R es ol ut io n 6) , w hi ch re qu ire h ab ita t c on se rv at io n m ea su re s; H D (I I) – S pe ci es li ste d in A nn ex II o f t he H ab ita ts D ire ct iv e, re qu iri ng S pe ci al A re as o f C on se rv at io n fo r t he ir pr ot ec tio n; H D (V ) – S pe ci es li ste d in A nn ex V o f t he H ab ita ts D ire ct iv e, w ho se p op ul at io ns m us t b e m an ag ed to e ns ur e th ei r s us ta in ab le u se ; H D (I V ) – S pe ci es li ste d in A nn ex IV o f t he H ab ita ts D ire ct iv e, re qu iri ng st ric t p ro te ct io n du e to th ei r c om m un ity in te re st; B er n (I ) – S pe ci es li ste d in A nn ex I of th e Be rn C on ve nt io n, re ce iv in g str ic t p ro te ct io n; E U (B ) – S pe ci es li ste d in C IT ES A pp en di x II , e xc lu di ng th os e e xe m pt b y th e E U ; C IT ES – S pe ci es n ot c ur re nt ly th re at en ed w ith ex tin ct io n bu t w ho se tr ad e m us t b e c on tro lle d to p re ve nt u ns us ta in ab le u se th at c ou ld h ar m th ei r s ur vi va l. 24/1 • 2025, 95–110 109 Millaku et al. 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