How to conserve threatened Chinese plant species with extremely small populations?

Abstract

The Chinese flora occupies a unique position in global plant diversity, but is severely threatened. Although biodiversity conservation in China has made significant progress over the past decades, many wild plant species have extremely small population sizes and therefore are in extreme danger of extinction. The concept of plant species with extremely small populations (PSESPs), recently adopted and widely accepted in China, lacks a detailed description of the methodology appropriate for conserving PSESPs. Strategies for seed sampling, reintroduction, protecting PSESP locations, managing interactions with the local human population, and other conservation aspects can substantially differ from those commonly applied to non-PSESPs. The present review is an attempt to provide a detailed conservation methodology with realistic and easy-to-follow guidelines for PSESPs in China.

Conservation assessment of the endemic plants from Kosovo

“…Anyhow, as most of the threats are anthropogenic, in order of achieving more sustainable solutions, a systematic and interdisciplinary approach on biodiversity conservation has been required (Delanoë et al 1996, Tisdell 2014. For all of the sixteen taxa that have been studied and analysed, and in particular for the twelve of them that are critically endangered (CR), ex situ and in situ conservation programmes need to be combined appropriately and also the reintroduction of the projects is highly recommended (Ardestani et al 2015, Volis 2016.…”

Genetic diversity in populations of Maytenus dasyclada (Celastraceae) in forest reserves and unprotected Araucaria forest remnants

“…Studies around the word have reinforced the importance and needs of adequate management of protected areas for conserving plant genetic resources (Koskela et al 2013;Maxted 2003;Volis 2016), particularly for tropical plants (Pautasso 2009;Howe 2014). Knowledge of ecological and genetic characteristics of plant species may inform novel approaches for conservation planning, and may aid in identification of areas that best complement the established natural reserves (Prado et al 2010;Silva et al 2016).…”

Planning priority conservation areas under climate change for six plant species with extremely small populations in China

“…A list of 120 wild plant species was recently identified as the first set of species in the nation to receive urgent protection (Ren et al 2012, Volis 2016. These 120 species are labelled Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations (PSESP) due to: 1) the limited number of mature individuals in the wild; 2) restricted distribution ranges; 3) recognition as national or regional endemic species in China; and 4) economic development or scientific value (Ma et al 2013, Chen et al 2014, Wade et al 2016, Volis 2016. To conserve the 120 PSESP, several national and regional conservation strategies have been implemented and such strategies will be expanded across China (Ren et al 2012, Ma et al 2013).…”

“…To conserve the 120 PSESP, several national and regional conservation strategies have been implemented and such strategies will be expanded across China (Ren et al 2012, Ma et al 2013). In-situ and ex-situ conservation methods have been widely employed for PSESP (Ren et al 2012, Ma et al 2013, Wade et al 2016, Volis 2016. These approaches have the advantage of being cost-efficient, flexible and capable of supplementing other conservation measures (Wade et al 2016, Volis 2016).…”

“…In-situ and ex-situ conservation methods have been widely employed for PSESP (Ren et al 2012, Ma et al 2013, Wade et al 2016, Volis 2016. These approaches have the advantage of being cost-efficient, flexible and capable of supplementing other conservation measures (Wade et al 2016, Volis 2016). However, due to the vulnerability of PSESP to rapid climate change, the effectiveness of in-situ and ex-situ PSESP conservation actions may be decreased by climate change (Chen et al 2014.…”