Conservation Gap Within a Nature Reserve: A Case Study in the Biodiversity Hotspot of Rare and Endangered Plants at the Southern Gaoligong Mountains

A significant conservation gap of 76.86% exists within the southern Gaoligong Mountains, part of the UNESCO-listed Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, highlighting the inadequacy of current protected zones in safeguarding rare and endangered plant species. Using distribution data for 361 species and environmental variables, the study employed InVEST and random forest models to project current and future potential habitats under climate change scenarios. Findings reveal that only 23.14% of the identified suitable habitat is protected, with agricultural expansion exacerbating habitat loss. The research underscores the need for prioritizing vertical zone integrity in conservation strategies to ensure continuous protection of biodiversity.

Yang, Y.-J.-W., Hu, X.-R., Deng, M., & Tan, Y.-H. (2025). Conservation Gap Within a Nature Reserve: A Case Study in the Biodiversity Hotspot of Rare and Endangered Plants at the Southern Gaoligong Mountains. Integrative Conservation, 4(1), 71–84. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/inc3.82