STRENGTHENING THE NATURAL AND NATIONAL-PARK SYSTEM OF IBERIA TO CONSERVE VASCULAR PLANTS

The diversity of the Iberian vascular flora has been investigated usin g WORLDMAP versions 3.08 and 3.18. Two data sets scoring plant distrib utions as presences within the Iberian Peninsula were compiled; one fo r 2133 species at 50 X 50 km grid and the other for 801 species at 10 x 10 km map grids. Patterns of biodiversity were determined using the diversity measures of species richness, range-size rarity and characte r richness diversity. Using the diversity measures, combined with an a rea selection method, maps of priority areas were calculated using ite rative procedures. Near minimum sets (NMSs) for both scales were calcu lated. Comparison of the NMS for the 10 X 10 km grid with the near min imum set for existing reserves (NMSER) showed that al least 2% more of the land surface would be required above and beyond the existing prot ected area network, currently comprising 6% of the area, to ensure rep resentation of all species at least once as listed within the present data-base. II is demonstrated that reserve systems selected on a varie ty of different criteria are suboptimal when compared to particular gr oups of target organisms with a definite goal of representation for co nservation. Calculating efficiency of existing reserve systems and acc ounting for all taxa identifies precisely the extra required areas for the protected area system to satisfy particular goals of representati on. (C)1996 Linnean Society of London