Reassessment of the Genus Salacia under IUCN Threatened Categories in Sri Lanka

Salacia comprises of five species in Sri Lanka S. acuminatissima, S. chinensis, S. diandra, S. oblonga and S. reticulata while around two hundred species are distributed in tropical countries worldwide. All five species recorded in Sri Lanka are listed under various threaten categories in the National Red List 2012.The present study was carried out to reassess their conservation status based on IUCN threatened categories using preliminary field observations and data in order to contribute to the national red listing with robust data. The species were evaluated based on the criteria B of the IUCN guidelines 2017.The conservation statuses of two Salacia species S. acuminatissima and S. chinensis have remained same as the previous conservation statuses determined at national level as Endangered (EN) and Near threatened (NT) respectively. However, S. diandra was upgraded to the category of Critically Endangered (CR). The statuses of S. oblonga and S. reticulata were downgraded from Endangered (EN) to Near threatened (NT). Conservation statuses obtained using preliminary data and the upgrading the status of a taxa and downgrading of the statuses of two taxa is of prime importance to prioritize conservation of the members of the Genus Salacia in globally.