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Forests in the Yunnan provide habitat for red (lesser) pandas. © Ji Wei Zhr

Developing Strategies

Yunnan Great Rivers Project: Systems

The species, native communities and ecosystems that are the focus of observation in an area.

The Mixed Coniferous-Deciduous Forest was selected as a conservation target. It is characterized by very large, widely-spaced coniferous trees (mostly hemlock, spruce, and fir) rising high above a continuous canopy of diverse deciduous trees (mountain ash, birch, maple, rhododendron and others). It is in relatively good ecological condition at Meili compared to other parts of the ecoregion, offering a greater chance for conservation success.

We chose this as ecoregional target because of its high diversity of species, high rates of endemism (species found only in this habitat) and high degree of threats. Many rare and threatened tree species, such as Lancang fir (a very large tree related to the Douglas fir of western North America) and the beautiful dove tree (endemic to China) are concentrated in this forest.