A new study led by researchers from the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (KIB/CAS), has identified 15 high-priority areas for plant conservation across the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding regions—known collectively as the Third Pole (Fig. 1).
Alarmingly, over 70% of these areas lie outside current protected zones, raising urgent questions about the effectiveness of existing conservation strategies in the face of accelerating climate change.
Optimization of conservation networks in the Third Pole using a systematic conservation planning approach in Marxan. Each color in the Venn diagram at the bottom left corner represents a specific type of conservation area combinations. Extant protected areas and planned National Park Clusters within the newly identified priority areas are shown in pink and green, respectively. Areas of overlap between the identified priority areas, extant protected areas, and National Park Clusters are shown in orange. The percentage figures in parentheses indicate the proportion of the identified priority areas overlapping with extant Protected area (15.09%), National Park Clusters (3.63%) or both (10.08%), amounting to a total of 28.80% of the identified priority areas within the existing conservation network, leaving a 71.20% conservation gap. The 15 conservation priority areas (each of size ≥ 4200 km2) are displayed with a red outline and labelled with letters (A–O) in descending order of area size. These priority areas are: (A) Pan-Three Parallel Rivers; (B) Boshula Mountains; (C) Minshan; (D) Amne Machin-Nanshan (Qinghai); (E) Noijin Kangsang; (F) Lancang River Source; (G) Hoh Xil; (H) Brahmaputra Grand Canyon; (I) Manaslu-Annapurna; (J) Kohistan; (K) Ngawa; (L) Langtang; (M) Riyueshan (Qinghai); (N) Banma; (O) Buran. Map lines delineate study areas and do not necessarily depict accepted national boundaries. (Image by KIB)
Published in Global Change Biology, the research—by Wambulwa et al. (2025)—uses cutting-edge spatial techniques that integrate genetic data with species distribution models and advanced conservation planning tools.
The researchers compiled genetic data for 96 plant species, representing a total of 2141 populations across the Third Pole. Using species distribution models and a systematic conservation planning tool (Marxan), they mapped current and future hotspots of genetic diversity and vulnerability. Up to 15% of genetic diversity is projected to be lost under mid-to-high emissions scenarios by 2090. The study also models a northward and upward shift in suitable habitats—about 43 km and 86 meters on average—due to warming temperatures. Without intervention, the evolutionary potential of many species will be severely compromised, weakening their ability to survive future ecological shifts. This marks one of the first comprehensive efforts to incorporate genetic diversity into conservation prioritization at such a large regional scale.
The Third Pole is among the most biologically rich—and vulnerable—regions on Earth, home to over 18,000 vascular plant species, roughly one in five of which occur nowhere else.
As global temperatures rise, this region is expected to experience some of the planet’s most extreme climate shifts, threatening both unique ecosystems and the livelihoods they support. Consequently, proactive conservation of plant species in the region is critical and calls for consideration of all levels of biodiversity in conservation planning.
Unlike species counts, genetic diversity reflects the raw material for adaptation. It allows plant populations to respond to environmental stressors, diseases, and new climatic conditions. Despite its critical importance, genetic data are rarely incorporated into large-scale conservation decisions (Hoban et al. 2020).
To safeguard the evolutionary potential of plants, the study recommends expanding the conservation network in the Third Pole by nearly 6%, adding over 200,000 square kilometers. This would bring the total protected area to almost 40% of the region, aligning with international biodiversity targets and ensuring that conservation efforts are biologically meaningful—not just politically convenient.
The article has already drawn international attention, including a commentary titled "Incorporating Genetic Diversity to Optimize the Plant Conservation Network in the Third Pole" by Oberlander (2025), which highlights the urgent need to incorporate genetic metrics alongside species counts and ecosystem assessments in global conservation planning.
The collaborative study involved scientists from China, Kenya, Canada, and the UK, underscoring the global importance of this biodiversity hotspot—and the global responsibility to protect it.
Contact:
YANG Mei
General Office
Kunming Institute of Botany, CAS
email: yangmei@mail.kib.ac.cn
(Editor: YANG Mei)
