<i>Magnolia gustavii</i> - A Critically Endangered tree species of Northeast India: Rediscovery, Restoration and Implications for Conservation

Ellora Dutta Borah; Ankur Jyoti Saikia; Prodip Hazarika; Debojit Neog; Jatin Kachari; Luhit Chandra Tamuli; Rajib Kumar Borah

doi:10.36808/if/2026/v152i1/171048

Magnolia gustavii - A Critically Endangered tree species of Northeast India: Rediscovery, Restoration and Implications for Conservation

Authors

Ellora Dutta Borah ICFRE- Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat-785010, Assam
Ankur Jyoti Saikia ICFRE- Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat-785010, Assam
Prodip Hazarika ICFRE- Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat-785010, Assam
Debojit Neog ICFRE- Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat-785010, Assam
Jatin Kachari ICFRE- Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat-785010, Assam
Luhit Chandra Tamuli ICFRE- Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat-785010, Assam
Rajib Kumar Borah ICFRE- Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat-785010, Assam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2026/v152i1/171048

Keywords:

Magnoliaceae, Natural re-generation, Phenology, Re-introduction, Species recovery and Threats

Abstract

Magnolia gustavii King, a Critically Endangered tree species has been rediscovered from Dangori Reserve Forest in Assam (India) after a lapse of 133 years; since the last herbaria of M. gustavii were collected during 1890-1891 and thereafter no information on existence of this species in Assam has been reported till date. In addition, population structure and regeneration status of this species was studied and threats to this species were identified to develop effective conservation implications. A total of 31 individuals from a single population occurring in Dangori Reserve Forest under Doomdooma Forest Division, Tinsukia district, Assam were identified as M. gustavii with maximum (17) individuals in the Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) class 56-65 cm and least (1) in DBH class 36-45 cm. Regeneration status was observed to be 'None' as only mature trees were occurring in study sites. The existing population of this species is under threat owing to anthropogenic activities, meteorological factors, grazing/foraging, lack of natural regeneration, Land Use Land Cover (LULC) change etc. As a protective measures against the threats, recovery programme of the species at Species level was taken up by reintroducing saplings in wild (in-situ conservation) as well as in newer potential habitats (ex-situ conservation) to sustain the current population from extinction.

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