Wenshan Prefecture is recognized as a treasure trove of species and genetic resources, both in China and globally. The academic community regards it as the “center of ancient plant distribution,” and it is the origin and modern distribution center for the Magnoliaceae family. This region is also known as the “Hometown of Magnolias in China.” Wenshan is home to extensive subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests, karst forests, and unique cave ecosystems. It has been hailed as “An Oasis on the Karst Landform,”and “A Paradise of Biodiversity,”making it one of the most bio-diverse areas in Yunnan Province. In recent years, Wenshan Prefecture has been accelerating efforts to enhance its biodiversity protection capabilities, strengthening ecological space management, and effectively safeguarded the key ecosystems, habitats of rare and endangered wildlife, scenic areas, and biodiversity-rich regions.

Practicing the Green Development Concept to Achieve Significant Ecological Protection Results

Since 2011, Wenshan Prefecture has completed afforestation efforts covering 8.776 million mu (approximately 5.85 million hectares). Compared to 2016, the area of rocky desertification land has decreased by 226,800 hectares, with a forest coverage rate of 36.71% and the grassland vegetation coverage reaching 87.3%. Across the region, 27 nature reserves have been established, covering an area of 184,100 hectares, accounting for 5.86% of the total land area. Among these, there are 12 national-level reserves, 14 of provincial-level, and 1 of prefectural-level.

Wenshan Prefecture currently has 416 recorded terrestrial wild animal species, of which 116 are listed under national key protection. There are 22 species of wild animals under first-class national protection, such as the slow loris, pangolin, and forest musk deer. Additionally, there are 94 species under second-class national protection, including the short-tailed monkey, Chinese goral, and silver pheasant. The region also boasts 7,907 species of wild vascular plants, with 224 species included in the national key protection list, representing 20.34% of the country’s total. There are 24 species of first-class nationally protected wild plants, such as Parashorea chinensis and Wenshan Red Orchid, and 186 species of second-class nationally protected plants, such as Aristolochia delavayi and Bole Tree. Wenshan has 57 plants species of extremely small populations, accounting for 47.5% of the national total and 56.44% of the provincial total respectively. The region also boasts 265 endemic plants, such as Manglietiastrum sinicum, Chinese Swamp Cypress, Michelia chapensis, Phoebe puwenensis, and Camellia reticulata. Moreover, Wenshan has 24 tea plant germplasm resource populations, covering an area of approximately 12,000 hectares with about 460,000 individual plants.

Leading in Biodiversity Protection to Cement Ecological Security

Efforts have been made to enhance the monitoring and surveying of wild animal resources. In 2023, through sample line surveys, the Wenshan National Nature Reserve monitored 24 wild animal species, including the slow loris, pygmy loris, pangolin, masked palm civet, leopard cat, silver pheasant, golden pheasant, Yunnan Warty Newt, and Starry Torrent Frog. The monitoring recorded 61 bird species with 147 individuals, and 41 amphibian and reptile species with 341 individuals. Infrared cameras captured images of 20 species of ground-dwelling mammals from 9 families across 4 orders, and 58 bird species from 19 families across 5 orders. Among these, there were 2 species of second-class nationally protected wild mammals and 12 species of second-class nationally protected birds.

In addition, rare and endangered plants such as Manglietiastrum sinicum, Acer yangbiense, and Cycas debaoensis have been introduced through experimental planting, with over 167 Manglietiastrum sinicum saplings, over 100 Acer yangbiense saplings, and over 30 Cycas debaoensis saplings planted. In collaboration with the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, a baseline survey was completed for one hectare of mossy dwarf forest vegetation in the reserve. This survey provides a solid foundation for future re-evaluation and the assessment of ecosystem changes. Surveys were also conducted on 11 vegetation community sample plots and 13 key protected species plots, resulting in the collection of over 1,000 samples.

Utilizing Scientific Protection Achievements to Promote Harmonious Coexistence Between Man and Nature

Wenshan Prefecture has been actively working to shape a demonstration base for modern plateau agriculture focusing on the traditional Sanqi (Panax notoginseng) Chinese herbal medicine industry and the integrated development of grain, fruit, vegetable, and livestock farming. These efforts aim to promote sustainable and healthy agricultural development. Additionally, the region is fostering new integrated development models that combine culture, sports, tourism, and wellness, creating new scenarios, industries, and brands that inject fresh vitality into the tourism industry.

The modern agricultural development represented by green food achieved vigorous growth. Wenshan has completed the construction of 117 demonstration areas of the “Six One-Hundred Bases” and 93 newly certified agricultural products under the “Three Products and One Standard” system. 14 provincial-level industrial bases have received recognition of  “Green Food Brand” standards.

Focusing on the goal of becoming the global “City of Sanqi(Panax notoginseng),” Wenshan is advancing the entire Sanqi industrial chain, including planting, processing, trading, branding, and the listing of companies. The goal is to develop the Sanqi industry into a 100-Billion-Yuan industry. In 2023, the Sanqi planting area in Wenshan Prefecture reached 2.295 million mu, generating a comprehensive total output value of 17.895 billion yuan for Sanqi industry .

Wenshan Prefecture firmly upholds the development concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains and are invaluable assets.” With a deep-rooted foundation of green development, a beautiful landscape of ecological prosperity, thriving forestry, and prosperous livelihoods is gradually unfolding across the land of Yunnan.