Batu Caves hill is typical of karst hills in Peninsular Malaysia due to its small size and high biodiversity. It harbours 366 vascular plant species that represent about 25% of the Peninsula’s limestone flora. Five species are endemic to Batu Caves and 23 are threatened species. This high biodiversity is the result of many microhabitats, each with their own assemblages of species. Threats are especially severe as the area of Batu Caves is surrounded by urbanisation that encroaches to the foot of cliffs, is vulnerable to fire, habitat disturbance and, formerly, by quarrying. Assigning a Conservation Importance Score (CIS) to all species is quantitative and accurate, can be implemented rapidly and produces reproducible results. Species with highest CIS are native species of primary vegetation, restricted to limestone substrates, endangered conservation status and, in this case, endemic to Batu Caves. It allows not only species, but microhabitats, sites within a hill and different hills to be compared. By identifying and surveying all microhabitats and focusing on locating endemic and threatened species, maximum biodiversity can be captured. Of the 16 microhabitats identified, the most threatened were the buffer zone, lower levels of steep earth-covered slopes and cave entrances. Application of this method provides a scientific basis for balancing the need to protect microhabitats and sites with the highest CIS, with their multiple uses by various stakeholders, which, at Batu Caves, include the activities of cave temples and eco-recreation. It also provides a scientific quantitative method to compare hills to ensure that those hills with highest CIS are not released for mining.

中文翻译：

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喀斯特石灰岩植物多样性评估-以马来西亚黑风洞为例

黑风洞山地面积小，生物多样性高，是马来西亚半岛岩溶山地的典型代表。它拥有366种维管束植物物种，约占半岛石灰岩植物区系的25％。黑风洞特有的5种，而濒危物种则有23种。这种高生物多样性是许多微生境的结果，每个生境都有自己的物种组合。威胁尤为严重，因为黑风洞地区被城市化所包围，该城市化侵占了悬崖脚下，易受火灾，生境干扰的影响，并且以前是采石场。为所有物种指定一个保护重要性分数（CIS）是定量和准确的，可以快速实施并产生可重复的结果。CIS最高的物种是原生植被的原生物种，仅限于石灰石基质，危及保护状况，在这种情况下，是黑风洞的特有种。它不仅可以比较物种，还可以比较微生境，山丘和不同山丘中的遗址。通过识别和调查所有微生境并专注于定位特有和受威胁物种，可以捕获最大的生物多样性。在确定的16个微生境中，受威胁最大的是缓冲区，较低水平的陡峭土坡和洞穴入口。这种方法的应用为平衡保护具有最高CIS的微生境和场所以及各种利益相关者的多种使用提供了科学依据，在Ba株洞，包括洞穴庙宇的活动和生态娱乐。