Endangered status and biodiversity conservation of China’s Gesneriaceae

Abstract

There are a lot of endemic and narrowly distributed species in Gesneriaceae in China’s higher plants, 805 known species (including infraspecies, the same below), belong to 45 genera, before December 31st, 2021, and mainly found from Southwest toward South China. Apart from a few species, most species in China are specifically turned the certain micro-habitats so that they are easily influenced becoming endangered status by the own and external factors. For better understanding the endangered risks of known species of Gesneriaceae in China, we re-assessed the IUCN red list categories of China’s Gesneriaceae taxa, then calculated and analyzed the data based on consulting relevant literature, collecting the endangered data of new reported taxa in recent years, and coupling with detailed field investigations for Gesneriaceae in China. At the same time, relied on Gesneriad Committee of China Wild Plant Conservation Association, National Gesneriaceae Germplasm Resources Bank of GXIB and Gesneriad Conservation Center of China, we first created and formulated a new mode for the conservation of China’s Gesneriaceae plants, which executed simultaneously new taxa discoveries and formal publications, assessments of the taxon’s endangered status, immediately launching conservation programs and new horticultural variety cultivations. Analysis results demonstrate that it is necessary to enhance the attention degree of protection of Gesneriaceae biodiversity by relevant government departments. Thus, we suggest: (1) To further strengthen the understanding for the urgency of protection of China's Gesneriaceae germplasm resource; (2) To conduct series of researches about rescuing conservation, ex & in-situ conservation, re-introduction in similar habitats and development for those groups in CR & EN categories; (3) To promote the development of breeding of new horticultural varieties of Gesneriaceae. All are the important base and essential precondition of Gesneriaceae biodiversity conservation.

Keywords

• iucn
• gesneriaceae
• species biodiversity
• assessment of endangered status
• new taxon