|
IDENTIFICATION OF KEY SITES FOR THREATENED TREES IN THE KARST LIMESTONE HIGHLANDS OF NORTHERN VIETNAM AND SOUTHERN CHINA.
The karst limestone highlands of southern China and northern Vietnam are widely recognised as a top biodiversity priority. The area is under great pressure from human populations and the past decade has seen very substantial changes to the landscape and natural vegetation. The Global Trees Campaign is working to identify key sites for threatened trees in the border area and increase cooperation between Chinese and Vietnamese authorities and scientists for conservation of trees in the area.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Falling within the Indo-Burma hot-spot the limestone highlands of the China-Vietnam border have been particularly prioritised for their diverse and highly threatened primates and trees, especially conifers and magnolias.
The Global Trees Campaign is already working in this area, on conifer conservation in northern Vietnam and magnolia conservation in southern China.
A new Global trees Campaign project, which began in early 2009, has the aim of identifying priority sites for threatened trees in this area to allow future conservation work to be targeted effectively.
Phase 1 - 2009-2010
The first phase of the project will work to gather up-to-date information on the exact location and condition of remaining populations of threatened magnolias and conifers. Current information is patchy – some sites are relatively well-known, while information from others dates from many years ago or is lacking. Identification of priority sites will be achieved through a programme of desk research, followed by field surveys at key locations.
Many potential sites are within existing nature reserves, as these host some of the best remaining patches of forest in this highly cultivated landscape. The work will involve scientists and experts from China and Vietnam, allowing an
exchange of information and expertise between the two nations. In particular, information and expertise on magnolias appears to be lacking in Vietnam, although several species are known to occur in the border area of China and are likely therefore to be also found in Vietnam. The programme will also collaborate with BGCI and Missouri Botanical Garden initiatives to Red List plants in the karst limestone area.
Read more about Global Trees Campaign work on Vietnamese Conifers and Chinese Magnolias.
Back to Current Projects
|
