Pan Xiaotian, Shan Zhangjian, Tian Xin, Niu Yanting, Liu Yun, Li Zhe, Li Yutong, Huang Yuxi, Ye Jianfei
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China.
School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, China.
BMC Biol. 2025 Jun 4;23(1):156. doi: 10.1186/s12915-025-02270-3.
The National Key Protected Wild Plants (NKPWPs) list serves as China's primary legal framework for plant diversity protection, with the species categorized into Level I (critically endangered, strictly protected) and Level II (lower risk but still requiring protection). However, the geographical distribution of these species and gaps in their conservation remain elusive due to the limited availability of data on species distribution. Thus, to address these gaps and support precise conservation, we developed a county-level distribution database for the NKPWP species using information primarily sourced from literature. Using this database, we elucidated the geographical distribution patterns of NKPWPs and identified the gaps in both in situ and ex situ conservation.
The NKPWPs analyzed in the study included 1,128 plant species. We compiled a county-level distribution database for these species with 30,397 records. Detailed analysis of this data revealed that these species were concentrated in the mountainous regions of southern China, including the Eastern Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains, south Yunnan, the Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi border, and the Wuling Mountains. Among the 1,118 embryophyte species of the checklist, 1,060 (94.81%) were found conserved in situ, 681 (60.91%) were found conserved ex situ, and 660 (59.03%) through both approaches. Besides, species with a higher threat level and limited distribution range exhibited lower conservation coverage in both ex situ and in situ approaches; 37 species received no conservation (3.31%).
The county-level distribution database developed in this study comprehensively depicts the geographical distribution patterns of NKPWP in China, offering valuable data for planning species conservation and providing a foundational framework for addressing the existing gaps in their conservation across China. This database will ultimately support targeted conservation and resource allocation to protect plant diversity effectively. We also suggest adopting an integrated evaluation approach for conservation strategies in other areas, globally, or for other biological groups.
国家重点保护野生植物名录是中国植物多样性保护的主要法律框架，这些物种被分为一级（极度濒危，严格保护）和二级（风险较低但仍需保护）。然而，由于物种分布数据有限，这些物种的地理分布及其保护缺口仍不明确。因此，为了填补这些缺口并支持精准保护，我们利用主要来自文献的信息，开发了一个县级国家重点保护野生植物物种分布数据库。利用这个数据库，我们阐明了国家重点保护野生植物的地理分布模式，并确定了就地保护和迁地保护中的缺口。
本研究分析的国家重点保护野生植物包括1128种植物。我们为这些物种编制了一个县级分布数据库，有30397条记录。对这些数据的详细分析表明，这些物种集中在中国南方的山区，包括东喜马拉雅-横断山脉、滇南、滇黔桂边境和武陵山区。在清单中的1118种有胚植物物种中，发现1060种（94.81%）得到就地保护，681种（60.91%）得到迁地保护，660种（59.03%）通过两种方式得到保护。此外，威胁等级较高且分布范围有限的物种在迁地保护和就地保护中的保护覆盖率较低；37种未得到保护（3.31%）。
本研究开发的县级分布数据库全面描绘了中国国家重点保护野生植物的地理分布模式，为规划物种保护提供了有价值的数据，并为填补中国各地现有保护缺口提供了基础框架。这个数据库最终将支持有针对性的保护和资源分配，以有效保护植物多样性。我们还建议在全球其他地区或针对其他生物类群的保护策略中采用综合评估方法。
