COP15: Yunnan discovers 3,718 new species from 1992 to 2020

May 22 is International Biodiversity Day. The Information Office of Yunnan Provincial Government  held a press conference to release the list of newly recorded species (1992-2020). The press conference showed the research achievement of new species and the work of biodiversity.

A new species refers to a species discovered and named for the first time in scientific work, which has not been recognized by science and has been qualified for publication. A new record is a geographic record of a new distribution of a known species. The list includes fungus, lichens, ferns, gymnosperms, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and more.

According to statistics, 3,718 new species have been discovered in Yunnan Province from 1992 to 2020, including 2,519 newly found species and 1,199 newly recorded species. There are 570 species of macrofungi, 802 species of lichens, 56 species of mosses, 183 species of ferns, 15 species of gymnosperms, 1703 species of angiosperms, 215 species of fish, 52 species of amphibians, 31 species of reptiles, 60 species of birds, and 31 species of mammals.

In terms of distribution area, the new species and records were concentrated in Gongshan Dulong Nu Autonomous County of Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture and Mengla County of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. In terms of discovery time, the mid-1990s and the last decade were the peaks of newly found species and newly recorded species, of which more than 200 species were discovered in 2016 and 2020.

According to the experts, over the past 30 years, more than one-third of China's new species have been discovered in Yunnan. The list reflects Yunnan's contribution to biodiversity conservation research and lays a foundation for further conservation and development in utilization of biological resources. At the same time, it also enriches the public's awareness of biodiversity, which is of positive significance to the publicity and protection of biodiversity.

Located in the intersection of the three regions "Southwest China Mountain", "East Himalayan" and "India-Myanmar", Yunnan is terrestrial biodiversity hotspots in the world.  Known as the "animal kingdom", "plant kingdom" and "species gene bank", Yunnan has the highest altitude of 6,740 meters, while the lowest is 76.4 meters.

Within a distance of nearly 1,000 kilometers from the north to the south, the province covers seven climate types, including northern tropical, south subtropical and middle subtropical. The special geographical location, diverse landforms and three-dimensional climate environment give birth to rich biodiversity and make Yunnan a high concentration of new species.

Reporting by Hu Xiaorong (Yunnan Daily); Trans-editing by Mo Yingyi