Revitalizing Rare and Endangered Plants in Shennongjia
Updated：2025-02-17 Source：Shennongjia National Park
During the Spring Festival, rare plants such as Chinese dove trees (Davidia involucrata), yew trees (Taxus chinensis), Phoebe zhennan S. Lee, Houpoea officinalis, and Aesculus chinensis var. wilsonii flourished in the Shennongjia National Park candidate area, Hubei Province.
In recent years, Shennongjia Forestry District has integrated the protection of rare and endangered plants with industrial development, forging a path that unifies ecological, social, and economic benefits. This approach has breathed new life into these precious species.
At the greenhouse of the Biodiversity Conservation Research Laboratory in Shennongjia National Park, Jiang Zhiguo, the lab director, carefully observed the growth of Berchemiella wilsonii and cleared surrounding weeds and dead leaves.
“This is our meticulously cultivated Berchemiella wilsonii. Only five or six specimens remain in Shennongjia, making it extremely rare,” Jiang explained.
Jiang Zhiguo and his team successfully cultivate Berchemiella wilsonii Berchemiella wilsonii is a deciduous shrub or small tree with an extremely narrow distribution range. It is listed as a “Minimal Population Species” under China’s “Wild Plant Rescue and Conservation Project for Extremely Small Populations” and classified as endangered (National Grade II Protected Plant).
In the laboratory, alongside Berchemiella wilsonii, other endangered species such as Prunus hongpingensis and Acer miaotaiense are thriving.
“For species unable to reproduce naturally, we provide artificial assistance by collecting seeds and stem segments, then propagating them through seeding, cutting, or grafting,” Jiang said.
Since its establishment in 2009, the lab has been equipped with advanced facilities including greenhouses, seedling bases, reagent preparation rooms, sterile inoculation chambers, and plant physiology labs, ensuring robust support for research on flora and fauna.
“Our core mission is to investigate, monitor, and assess germplasm resources of rare and endangered plants in Shennongjia, followed by their collection, preservation, and propagation,” Jiang emphasized.
To date, the lab has utilized tissue culture technology combined with seeding, cutting, and grafting to successfully cultivate over 5,000 saplings of 11 rare species—including Chinese dove trees, yew trees, Katsura trees (Cercidiphyllum japonicum), and ginkgo—as well as 30,000 saplings of eight species such as Bashan fir (Abies fargesii) and Huashan pine (Pinus armandii). These efforts have significantly contributed to ecological restoration and afforestation in Shennongjia.
The lab has also participated in multiple national and provincial research projects, published over 20 papers on plant tissue culture, co-authored five monographs, and secured six national patents. One achievement was recognized as a major scientific breakthrough in Hubei Province.
“In 2025, we will continue our mission to ‘rescue endangered species and protect biodiversity’ by advancing ex-situ conservation, artificial propagation, reintroduction to the wild, and scientific research,” Jiang stated. “We will strengthen the management of provincial germplasm resource banks and seedling bases, enhance in-situ and ex-situ conservation, and restore wild populations of endangered species.”
In October 2017, Shennongjia launched the Laojunshan Rare Plant Propagation Base. The first phase covered 100 mu (1 mu ≈ 666.67m2), focusing on cultivating 18 rare and endangered species such as Chinese dove trees, Katsura trees, and Tetracentron sinense. This initiative guides local farmers to transition from traditional crops to cultivating rare seedlings, fostering eco-friendly economic growth.
The base supports villagers through land leasing, free seed distribution, and free sapling provision. A cooperative was established to organize seedling cultivation activities.
“I planted over 10 mu with Phoebe zhennan, Houpoea officinalis, and Aesculus chinensis,” said villager Xie Xingbing. “Previously, my family grew corn and potatoes, which were often destroyed by wild boars. Now, during the three-year sapling growth period, we receive annual subsidies of over 10,000 yuan.”
workers planted seedlings in Qianjiaping of Shennongjia “The saplings were free. Now, aside from occasional weeding, there’s little to worry about. Before, we guarded fields day and night against wildlife and weather disasters. Growing rare trees not only boosts income but also frees up time for other work,” Xie added.
Laojunshan villagers participate in three ways: leasing land for the base (earning 400 yuan/mu/year plus 1,800 yuan/mu/year for field management), planting seeds (1,200 yuan/mu/year subsidy), or cultivating seedlings (500 yuan/mu/year subsidy). Mature seedlings can later be sold commercially.
Today, 80% of Laojunshan’s cultivated land is covered with rare saplings, including yew trees, dove trees, and ginkgo lining the roads. To date, the base has supplied over 400,000 saplings, contributing to ecological restoration, afforestation, and beautification, achieving a harmonious balance of ecological, social, and economic benefits. (By Fang Zeyang& Du Hua)
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Address：36 Chulin Road, Muyu Town, Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province 鄂ICP备18005077号-3
Address：36 Chulin Road, Muyu Town, Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province 鄂ICP备18005077号-3
Email：2673990569@qq.com
Phone：0719-3453368
Phone：0719-3453368
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