# Assessing the extinction risk of Veracruz cycads

## TL;DR

The paper introduces a new method to assess extinction risk for cycads in Veracruz, Mexico, showing how it can guide conservation efforts more effectively.

## Contribution

The study proposes and tests a new Conservation and Prioritization Index (CPI) for cycad conservation.

## Key findings

- The CPI method found correlations between longitude and extinction risk for Ceratozamia species in Veracruz.
- Zamia vazquezii and Z. inermis were identified as having the highest extinction risk.
- The CPI approach can serve as a model for conservation planning in other regions globally.

## Abstract

Cycads, an ancient lineage, face a higher threat of extinction than any other plant group. To address this urgent issue, a more comprehensive method for assessing extinction threat, the Conservation and Prioritization Index (CPI), is proposed and tested for cycads in the State of Veracruz, Mexico. The CPI is a multifaceted approach that incorporates techniques used in conservation status assessments by the IUCN and the Mexican NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 but incorporates other information, including georeferenced distribution data, endemism in Veracruz, number of locations, extent of occurrence, and distribution area. Using CPI, correlations were found between longitude and extinction risk for Ceratozamia species in Veracruz. Zamia vazquezii and Z. inermis were assessed to have the highest level of extinction risk. Overall, this study indicates that a more holistic approach, incorporating broader sources of environmental health, can be used to more effectively and proactively manage extinction threats to cycads in Veracruz. In this sense, Veracruz can serve as a model for conservation planning in different states in Mexico and worldwide. CPI is a tool that can be applied to other regions to manage another threatened biota. This method enhances objectivity and effectiveness in conservation efforts, promoting data-driven decision-making that can be used globally.