Central Asian wild tulip conservation requires a regional approach, especially in the face of climate change

Abstract Tulips ( Tulipa spp.) are one of the most widely appreciated plants worldwide, nevertheless species taxonomy and biogeography often poorly understood. Most wild tulips inhabit mountains Central Asia, a recognised biodiversity hotspot, centre tulip diversity. Despite presence several country-level endemic species, taxa span borders nations. With no globally Red Listed from this region national level conservation assessments an important resource. Nonetheless, threats posed to still inadequately understood, especially climate change, given trans-national nature distributional information is restricted misleading. Here we collate 330 records Global Biodiversity Information Facility with 85 newly collected records, undertake distribution modelling (MaxEnt) for ten native Asian species. This work showed that regional models provide much more comprehensive understanding species’ extinction risks, proportions habitat in different countries, limitations protected area coverage. Furthermore, our modelling, first its kind tulips, suggests change will have significant negative impact on range size all species; including those currently widespread. We therefore add list affecting populations which already includes livestock overgrazing, urbanisation, collection, mining. Overall, shows although important, approach crucial not just efforts, but likely plant general.