In China and Việt Nam this species is threatened due to logging and habitat loss as a result of forest clearance for agriculture and grazing
Distribution
In China this species is sporadically distributed in southern Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Guizhou, Hubei (west), Hunan (north), northern Jiangxi, southern Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Zhejiang. The IUCN Redlist includes populations of Pseudotsuga wilsoniana from Taiwan with P sinensis. In Việt Nam P. sinensis is the most common conifer in the karst areas stretching from Ha Giang to Cao Bang and Lang Son (Bac Son). These subpopulations are sometimes identified as P. sinensis var brevifolia.
Habitat and Ecology
Pseudotsuga sinensis occurs in low to medium high mountains at various elevations. In SE China it occurs between 600 to 1200m, in Taiwan between 1000 and 2700m, in Sichuan and Yunnan it may be found above 3000m, the highest record is 3300 metres above sea-level. In Việt Nam it has been recorded as low as 400 metres above sea-level. It also occurs on a variety of soil types, ranging from red-yellow soils in SE China to thin humus rich soils of the karst limestone areas in northern Việt Nam. Rainfall ranges from 1000 to 2000mm and climates may be temperate or warm temperate. In China it occurs with many broadleaf species and conifers such as Tsuga chinensis, T. dumosa, Picea brachytyla var. complanata. In Việt Nam it occurs along conifer dominated ridges with Tsuga chinensis, Xanthocyparis vietnamensis, Fokienia hodginsii, Calocedrus rupestris, Amentotaxus spp, Podocarpus spp and Nageia fleuryi. Trees may develop broad spreading crowns or a relatively narrow open candelabra shape, depending on exposure and location.
Human Uses
The timber is used for construction, bridge building, furniture and wood fiber. Very large trees are rare due to logging.
Conservation Status
Global status
Vulnerable A2cd
Global rationale
The species as a whole has undergone a range wide decline of at least 30%. This is a conservative estimate and may underestimate the degree of exploitation.
Global threats
The timber is extracted extensively throughout the species' range but most thoroughly in accessible areas. Trees are also being lost through habitat destruction for expanding agricultural activities.
Conservation Actions
A substantial subpopulation is protected in Lin'an County, Zhejiang, China. Its also occurs in protected areas in other parts of its range including Việt Nam.
References and further reading
Farjon, A. (2010). A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden.
Nguyên, T.H., Phan, K.L., Nguyễn, D.T.L.,Thomas, P.I., Farjon, A., Averyanov, L. & Regalado Jr., J. (2004). Vietnam Conifers: Conservation Status Review 2004. Fauna & Flora International, Vietnam, Hanoi.
Wu, Z. & Raven, P.H. (eds). (1999). Flora of China: Vol.4. Cycadaceae through Fagaceae. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis).
Yang, Y. & Christian, T. (2013). Pseudotsuga sinensis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 12 July 2013.
