China has made significant progress in wild plant conservation during its 14th Five-year Plan period (2021-2025), with most of key species effectively protected, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. As one of the countries with the greatest plant diversity in the world, China has taken both in-situ and ex-situ measures to protect 65 percent of higher plant communities and 80 percent of nationally key protected wild plants in the five years. Moreover, over 300 endangered species, such as Cycas debaoensis and Paphiopedilum armeniacum, have been reintroduced to the wild.
During the five-year period, the first group of five national parks provided in-situ protection for 141 key protected wild plant species. Additionally, more than 300 habitat conservation sites for rare and endangered plants were established outside nature reserves, significantly improving habitat integrity and connectivity. More than 100 species of extremely small-population wild plants have undergone rescuing conservation.
At the same time, an ex-situ conservation system centered on the China National Botanical Garden and the South China National Botanical Garden has been established, supporting large-scale germplasm preservation and scientific research.
"By 2035, our species collection will reach 30,000, placing it among the world's top botanical gardens. At the same time, we will achieve full coverage of China's endangered plants," said He Ran, management committee director of the China National Botanical Garden.
So far, the main facility of China's national plant germplasm resource bank has now been established, with a designed storage capacity of 70,000 species. It is expected to coordinate with the national parks to build a new framework for biodiversity protection in the future.
China makes significant progress in wild plant conservation in 2021-2025 period
China makes significant progress in wild plant conservation in 2021-2025 period
