Endemic species - a neglected biodiversity treasure?!
Christian Komposch, Key note
Endemics are the most neglected biodiversity-treasure! The Alps shelter European hot-spots of endemism. Some of them are protected - by chance. Others are being devastated - ruthless. We present two case studies from Eastern-Alpine massifs de refuge: the Gesäuse NP and the Koralpe. Climate warming is the same challenge for the cold-adapted species of both of them; habitat loss due to economic interests leads to a severe endangerment of the Koralpe endemics. We don't have to look at the tropical rain forests to raise the last question: Will we know all their names before they become extinct?