The critical regions for conservation of rare and endangered plant species diversity in Zhejiang Province

Abstract

Zhejiang Province is rich in plant resources. There live a total of 215 families, 1196 genera and 3283 species of wild vascular plants, including 49 genera endemic to China and 2000 species endemic to Zhejiang. Many species have become rare and threatened, and therefore, should be conserved as soon as possible. However, these rare and endangered plant species are not distributed evenly. Attention should be given to the regions where more plant species deserving protection exist. According to plant diversity, species richness of rare and endangered plants, and their individual quantitative features, imperiled status, and the distribution of endemic plant in Zhejiang Province, seven critical reserve regions for plant species diversity protection are suggested. They are northwest mountains (centered around Xitianmu Mountain), west mountains (centered around Gutian Mountain), southwest mountains (centered around Jiulong Mountain), south mountains (centered around Fengyang and Baishanzu Mountains), east mountains (centered around Kuocang Mountain), east hills (centered around Tiantai hill land), and Zhoushan Archipelago (centered around Putuoshan Island). Measures to protect plant diversity in Zhejiang are suggested.