Tropical and subtropical Asia's valued tree species under threat

Tree diversity in Asia's tropical and subtropical forests is central to nature-based solutions. Species vulnerability to multiple threats, which affects the provision of ecosystem services, is poorly understood. We conducted a region-wide, spatially explicit vulnerability assessment (including overexploitation, fire, overgrazing, habitat conversion, and climate change) of 63 socio-economically important tree species selected from national priority lists and validated by an expert network representing 20 countries. Overall, 74% of the most important areas for conservation of these trees fall outside of protected areas, with species severely threatened across 47% of their native ranges. The most imminent threats are overexploitation and habitat conversion, with populations being severely threatened in an average of 24% and 16% of their distribution areas. Optimistically, our results predict relatively limited overall climate change impacts, however, some of the study species are likely to lose more than 15% of their habitat by 2050 because of climate change. We pinpoint specific natural forest areas in Malaysia and Indonesia (Borneo) as hotspots for on-site conservation of forest genetic resources, more than 82% of which do not currently fall within designated protected areas. We also identify degraded lands in Indonesia (Sumatra) as priorities for restoration where planting or assisted natural regeneration will help maintain these species into the future, while croplands in Southern India are highlighted as potentially important agroforestry options. Our study highlights the need for regionally coordinated action for effective conservation and restoration

Seed Propagation: Germination and Early Growth of Michelia champaca L

Michelia champoco L. is commonly used as ornamental plants. !vi. champaca belongs to family of Magnolia ceae. This species is usually propagated by seeds. This resea rch was done to evaluate !vi champaca on seed propaga tion. In this research, four trials were performed. A to ta l of 3300 seeds of !vi. champaca that sowed were trea ted with sulphuric acid, hot water (SO'C-IOO'C) and lap wa ter. 300 seeds per treatment were arra ged in Completely Randornised Design. Germination o f !vi. cho"'paca seeds was evaluated. The trunsplanting of seedlings was performed after germinated seed has grown and produces their first \nre leaves. 75 seedlings were transferred into three types of potting media, which we re medium of only topsoil , medium of on ly sawdust an d medium with mixture of topsoil and sawd ust (I: I). Readin g of the plant growth was ta ken via the height, stem dia meter and number of leaves until 12" week. Res ults indicated that treatment with room temperature water was the best treatment for !vi. champaco. The growth study of M. champaca showed that a ll the three types of media resulted in different level of glowth in terms of he ight , diameler and number of le£lves. This research concluded that growth, biomass production and rool-shool ratio were diffe rent in a ll o f the media. The study of different media used gave significant effect on growth and root -shOal ratio but variance analysis on tala I biomass was not significant

Tropical and subtropical Asia's valued tree species under threat

Tree diversity in Asia's tropical and subtropical forests is central to nature-based solutions. Species vulnerability to multiple threats, which affect provision of ecosystem services, is poorly understood. We conducted a region-wide, spatially explicit assessment of the vulnerability of 63 socioeconomically important tree species to overexploitation, fire, overgrazing, habitat conversion, and climate change. Trees were selected for assessment from national priority lists, and selections were validated by an expert network representing 20 countries. We used Maxent suitability modeling to predict species distribution ranges, freely accessible spatial data sets to map threat exposures, and functional traits to estimate threat sensitivities. Species-specific vulnerability maps were created as the product of exposure maps and sensitivity estimates. Based on vulnerability to current threats and climate change, we identified priority areas for conservation and restoration. Overall, 74% of the most important areas for conservation of these trees fell outside protected areas, and all species were severely threatened across an average of 47% of their native ranges. The most imminent threats were overexploitation and habitat conversion; populations were severely threatened by these factors in an average of 24% and 16% of their ranges, respectively. Our model predicted limited overall climate change impacts, although some study species were likely to lose over 15% of their habitat by 2050 due to climate change. We pinpointed specific natural areas in Borneo rain forests as hotspots for in situ conservation of forest genetic resources, more than 82% of which fell outside designated protected areas. We also identified degraded areas in Western Ghats, Indochina dry forests, and Sumatran rain forests as hotspots for restoration, where planting or assisted natural regeneration will help conserve these species, and croplands in southern India and Thailand as potentially important agroforestry options. Our results highlight the need for regionally coordinated action for effective conservation and restoration.ISSN:0888-8892ISSN:1523-173