Conservation Status of Chinese Conifers

Date posted: 1 December 2006  -  Permalink / Shortlink

We would like to know from PlantNetwork members is which species are represented in botanical collections in the UK, particularly Abies nebrodensis

There are 133 conifer species listed as threatened in China. Of these, 45 are listed as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or conservation dependent. Drawing on their skills and knowledge of conifers and conifer management, the National Arboreta at Bedgebury and Westonbirt will collaborate with the Global Trees Campaign (through Fauna & Flora International and Botanic Gardens Conservation International) on a preliminary desk study to collate available knowledge on the in situ and ex situ status of IUCN-listed (World Conservation Union) conifers in China. The project will result in a short document to be presented at the 3rd Global Botanic Gardens Congress in Wuhan, in China in April 2007, where it will be discussed with Chinese experts.

The idea is to use current literature and knowledge to assess the in situ and ex situ status of IUCN-listed Chinese conifers, leading to identification of conservation needs and priorities and potential conservation action. We aim to:

  • produce a list of recognised IUCN-listed Chinese conifers
  • gather information on Chinese conifers in ex situ collections outside China, focusing on those in UK collections and other major collections around the world; information can be gathered from the BGCI website as well as other sources
  • gather information on Chinese conifers in ex situ collections within China, using BGCI knowledge and contacts
  • review current information on Chinese conifers in situ, using available literature and in-country knowledge and contacts (via Fauna & Flora International in China and other contacts)
  • compile information into a discussion document
  • organise discussion session at the 3rd Global Botanic Gardens Congress in Wuhan in April 2007, ensuring that major Chinese experts are involved
  • present a paper and lead discussion at the conference in Wuhan
  • prepare a written summary of the discussion and develop proposals for action.

We need your help

At this time, we have identified 45 conifers on which we would like more information. What we would like to know from PlantNetwork members is which species are represented in botanical collections in the UK, whether they are part of any active ex situ project and what field information is available for each specimen. If you can help or would like to see the list of species, please let us know. We would very much appreciate your help in the first stages of this exciting project.

Abies nebrodensis: a request for help

One outcome from our trip to see A. nebrodensis in Sicily (see Newsletter 32 p 41) is the realisation that any specimens in collections in the UK and Europe are potentially very important (The species Abies nebrodensis is one of the world’s most threatened conifers, only 29 specimens remaining in the original forest, which is restricted to a small area on Mt Scalone in the Madonie Mountains of north-central Sicily). This is especially true if there is good accession information available for individual plants.

At Bedgebury, we are lucky in having room to plant large numbers of individual species. This expansion is focused around work supporting part of the International Conifer Conservation Programme and Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. One of our target species is A. nebrodensis. Our aim is to have as many plants as possible of this species in an ex situ plot, in order to have a reasonable representation in one place of the genetic variation in the species. To this end, we would like to obtain material from trees in other collections that we can grow here at Bedgebury. We would like the help of PlantNetwork members in locating any specimens of Abies nebrodensis in collections in the UK and Europe. We would then like to obtain scions from as many plants as possible.

Chris Reynolds, Curator, Bedgebury Pinetum
Tel 01580 213 043

Daniel Luscombe, Bedgebury Pinetum