Suggestion to establish a nature reserve for protecting native savanna vegetation in hot dry valley of Jinshajiang, Yunnan

A rare and endangered savanna vegetation, dominated by the endemic Compositae tree species Nouelia insignis, exists in the hot dry valley of Jinshajiang, Yunnan. This unique ecosystem, characterized by its ancient geological and climatic history with minimal human disturbance, represents a northern-most distributed savanna in Yunnan and includes localized tropical monsoon forests dominated by Garuga forrestii. The study suggests establishing a nature reserve to protect this biodiversity-rich savanna, which aligns with Yunnan Province's principles for nature reserve demarcation. By comparing the Jinshajiang savanna to other savannas in Yunnan, the research highlights its scientific and conservation significance as an aboriginal vegetation type with high ecological value.

Zhu, H., Du, F.,. (2022). Suggestion to establish a nature reserve for protecting native savanna vegetation in hot dry valley of Jinshajiang, Yunnan. Biodiversity Science, 30(3), 21519. https://doi.org/10.17520/biods.2021519