Hengduan Shan Coniferous Forests - A Global Ecoregion

Peaks that exceed 7,000 metres, spectacular river valleys, and the endangered giant panda

About the Area
This Global ecoregion is made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Hengduan Mountains subalpine conifer forests; Qionglai-Minshan conifer forests; Nujiang Langcang Gorge alpine conifer and mixed forests.

It includes peaks from 1,300 meters to 3,500 - 4,000 meters in elevation in the north-south trending mountain system, which defines the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau.

This altitudinal zonation gives the region a high degree of habitat complexity and a resulting high biological diversity. A flagship species of this ecoregion is the rare and endangered Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), for which a system of nature reserves has been established.

Much of this ecoregion escaped glaciation during Ice ages, making it a refuge for many endemic and relict species.

Local Species
Some of the best-known species in this ecoregion are Giant panda, and the distantly related Red panda (Ailurus fulens). Foremost among the relict plant species is the dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), which until recently was presumed extinct.

Others include the Chinese yew (Taxus chinensis), Manglietta (Manglietia fordiana), and Chinese cedar (Cryptomeria fortunei). Many of these plants represent the last vestiges of once widespread vegetation types.

Several rare but wide-ranging mammals are found here like the Takin (Budorcas taxicolor), Chinese stump-tailed macaque (Macaca thibetana), Tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus), Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), Jungle cat (Felis chaus), spotted Linsang (Prionodon pardicolor), the vulnerable Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), and the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus).

Threats
A growing human population and the resulting demand for non-timber forests and wildlife products for medicinal and other uses has proved to be a major threat.

Resources
• NationalGeographic.com