Yunnan protects its wild side

A tree reborn

After years of practice, Yunnan has formulated specific technical guidance for PSESP conservation, including methods such as in-situ, ex-situ, and near-situ conservation.

Before 2016, only five Acer yangbiense — a rare species of maple — had been discovered in Yunnan. They were found in 2001 by a PhD student from the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

At that time, only two of the discovered samples were able to propagate, so the new species was subsequently included as one of the 20 endangered species that require immediate protection in the province's conservation plan for SESP.

The nearby Malutang village was approached for assistance in the Acer yangbiense rescue efforts, and the village chief was tasked with ensuring protection for this plant.

With the help of the village chief, researchers from the botany institute were able to make a scientific breakthrough — they managed to artificially breed over 1,600 seedlings.

By analyzing the genetic diversity of the artificially-germinated seedlings and the five wild plants, researchers noted that even though all the seedlings were propagated from one of the five wild plants, there was pollen present from plants other than the five plants they had discovered.

Researchers thus expanded their search for more wild Acer yangbiense, and found 572 wild plants in 2016.

With the aid of the new plants, a total of 50,000 new seedlings were successfully reproduced.

"There is no doubt that our rescue effort has demonstrated effective coordination among relevant authorities, research institutes, and local communities," said Sun.