Biodiversity loss has profound effects on the stability and functioning of ecosystems, driven primarily by climate change and human activities. There is a notable lack of research addressing the specific impacts of climate change and human activities on endangered plants. This research gap hinders the development and implementation of effective biodiversity conservation strategies for this vulnerable area.
In a study published in Integrative Conservation, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) evaluated the current and future impacts of climate change and human activities on the potential habitats of endangered plants in the southern Gaoligong Mountains (2041–2060) using species distribution and InVEST models.
Focusing on the southern Gaoligong Mountains, part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, the researchers studied the distribution of 361 rare and endangered plants. Using the InVEST and Random Forest models, they also performed a conservation gap analysis to compare simulated biodiversity hotspots with existing protected areas, assessing their effectiveness in safeguarding established conservation zones.
They found that the majority of habitat areas for these plants (approximately 76.86%) remain unprotected. Currently, existing protected areas cover only 6% of potential habitat hotspots. Moreover, 59.5% of the suitable habitats for rare and endangered plant species are located in low- and medium-altitude areas, suggesting that the existing protected area network does not adequately protect local biodiversity.
Land use changes, particularly the expansion of agricultural land, are the primary drivers of habitat loss for rare and endangered plant species in the region. Despite these challenges, suitable areas for these species are expected to continue expanding over the period from 2041 to 2060.
The researchers, therefore, proposed that conservation planning should prioritize the integrity of the mountains' vertical vegetation zones to ensure habitat connectivity and stability for rare and endangered plant species.
Contact
TAN Yunhong Principal Investigator
Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China
E-mail: tyh@xtbg.org.cn
