
The China Threatened Conifer Region includes most of mainland China. Climatically and topographically it is diverse and one of the world's major centres for plant diversity. It has a rich conifer flora with more than 150 taxa including iconic endemic conifers such as Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Pseudolarix amabilis and Cathaya argyrophylla. Unfortunately almost half have been assessed as threatened. The principal threats arise from conversion of forest for agricultural use, plantation forestry and urbanization as well as recent exploitation for timber. A number of taxa are relictual and naturally have small populations: these are especially susceptible to anthropogenic influences. Several taxa, including, Cupressus funebris, Cunninghamia lanceolata and Platycladus orientalis have a long history of cultivation and their natural distributions have become unclear and it is uncertain if any wild populations still remain. The majority of threatened species are concentrated in the Sino-Himalayan areas of Yunnan and Sichuan, the limestone karst areas of Guangxi and Guizhou and the mountainous areas of Fujian and Zhejiang.
Endemic to eastern China in Zhejiang Province where only a handful of mature individuals survive Read full species entry >
Mainly found in the remote mountain ranges of southwestern China and northeast Myanmar where logging has had some impact. It is listed as Near Threatened. Read full species entry >
Endemic to south-central China where acid rain is the most serious threat and is causing decline or death to many of the trees Read full species entry >
Endemic to western Sichuan province in China where acid rain is the most serious threat and is causing a decline in the population Read full species entry >
Endemic to western Sichuan in China where acid rain is the main present-day threat Read full species entry >
Endemic to the Chinese province of Guizhou where it is in decline due to acid rain. Read full species entry >
Distributed in China where in the past logging has reduced the population considerably but acid rain is a present day threat Read full species entry >
A mid to high altitude fir that has previously been impacted by logging. It is assessed as Near Threatened. Read full species entry >