The preservation of old forests in southwest China is closely linked to the presence of ethnic minorities

Abstract

Sacred forests are increasingly disappearing due to increasing land pressure and a decline in cultural values. Protecting the remaining sacred forests plays a crucial role in preserving biodiversity. The existence of remaining old forests often related to local people and their culture, but this relationship has rarely been quantified at large regional scales. This study analyzes the relationship between old forest and ethnic minorities based on the location of the old forest at a high spatial resolution (2 m). We found a significantly positive correlation (p < 0.01) between the proportion of ethnic minority population and old forest patch number, area, aggregation, and maximum patch area. However, there was no correlation with the connectivity of the old forest (p = 0.14). We further show that both environmental and anthropogenic factors are important for the distribution of old forests. Hydrothermal conditions contribute to the growth of forests, and local ethnic customs and the corresponding ecological wisdom contributes to the preservation of old forest remnants (r = 0.12, p < 0.05). Our findings highlight the significance of social dimensions for the conservation of old forests. We encourage that forest management should consider the role of indigenous people and their cultural wisdom for a better conservation and restoration of degraded ecosystems.