China’s Wenshan: A treasure house of global biodiversity

The Wenshan Zhuang and Miao autonomous prefecture in southwest China’s Yunnan province is one of the Chinese areas with the most-exposed Paleozoic strata and the longest geological history. The prefecture has for long had diverse biogeographic floras, and it thus houses a large number of ancient, rare and endemic species.

A top-three endemic species distribution center in China. Wenshan, one of the three largest distribution centers for Chinese endemic species, is part and parcel of the "southeast Yunnan-west Guangxi" species center, where grow a large number of ancient and rare endemic species. At present, the prefecture has one million hectares protected as nature reserves, including one national reserve, six provincial reserves and one prefectural reserve. Wenshan has its Malania oleifera listed as an endangered species by international conservation organizations, and the prefecture also houses Excentrodendron hsienmu, a plant under the second-class state protection. The Excentrodendron forest in Wenshan enjoys the widest distribution, the largest area and the best preservation in China.

Global distribution center of the ancient Magnoliaceae. Across the world, there are 246 Magnoliaceae species in 15 genera, of which 107 species in 11 genera grow in China and 39 species in 8 genera in Wenshan. The prefecture also has all of the three single-genera Magnoliaceae in the world: Manglietia sinica, Michelia odora, and Alcimandra Dandy. Among them, Manglietia Sinica is a wild plant under first-class state protection, and it is called "a panda species in the plant kingdom". Through in-situ conservation, testing demonstration and other measures, the original Magnoliaceae habitat has improved, with the wild-plant population on the rise. Now Wenshan is truly the distribution center of Magnoliaceae plants.

A paradise for wild animals to breed and grow. Wenshan boasts a unique topography, mild climate and diverse vegetations, all conducive to the reproduction and growth of animals. Among them, 12 animal species are put under first-class national protection and 64 under second-class national protection.

Source: Publicity Department of the CPC Wenshan Prefectural Committee