Living Stone (Lithops gracilidelineata)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 232531392

Population survey and establishment of long-term monitoring plots of Lithops gracilidelineata, a threatened ‘living-stone’ plant endemic to the Namib Desert

Lithops gracilidelineata is a rare plant endemic to the Namib Desert that is severely threatened from over-collecting and habitat loss, but we currently lack sufficient population data to complete a formal conservation assessment. In order to conserve this species, we aim to conduct fieldwork across the native range of Lithops gracilidelineata and its subspecies (subsp. brandbergensis) in the Namib Desert to: 1. Record the morphological and ecological diversity of the species across its range. 2. Survey and map known populations. 3. Search for new populations. 4. Assess current and future threats to these populations. 5. Highlight threatened or significant populations in need of monitoring. Population data will be collected following the protocol established by the Threatened Plants Programme of Namibia. These data will then be used to: 6. Complete an IUCN Red List assessment for Lithops gracilidelineata. 7. Establish a conservation action plan with the Threatened Plants Programme of Namibia based on these collected data: the establishment of long-term monitoring plots of critical and threatened populations.