Distributed in Bhutan, China and Tibet where the population has been reduced due to logging and grazing is affecting regeneration
Distribution
Bhutan; China: S Qinghai, S & W Sichuan, NW Yunnan, SE Xizang [Tibet].
Habitat and Ecology
Both the type of the species (type locality Lijiang Shan, Yunnan) and the varieties are subalpine spruces (2900 to 4100 metres above sea-level.) of the SW Plateau of China. They are usually associated with other conifers, e.g. Abies spp., Picea brachytyla, Larix potaninii, and Tsuga spp. at the lower elevations.
Human Uses
Likiang Spruce is a timber tree used for construction, machines, poles, furniture, and wood pulp for the paper industry. The bark is used to produce tannin, resin is tapped or distilled from the wood, and the needles produce aromatic oils. In Europe and North America this species and its varieties can be found growing in arboreta and botanic gardens, as well as in large private gardens with tree collections. The correct naming to variety of these trees is often problematic
Conservation Status
Global staus
Vulnerable A2cd
Global rationale
The assessment of the species as a whole is determined by that of its most common and widespread variety, var. likiangensis, under the same criteria. There has been more than a 30% population reduction in the past 75 years (three generations) due to the impacts of logging.
Global threats
Logging has reduced this species by an estimated 30%.
Conservation Actions
The Government of China has recently imposed a logging ban in western China.
References and further reading
Farjon, A. (2010). A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden.
Zhang, D, Christian, T. & Farjon, A. (2013). Picea likiangensis var. likiangensis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 13 July 2013.
Wu, Z. & Raven, P.H. (eds). (1999). Flora of China: Vol.4. Cycadaceae through Fagaceae. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis).
