English version - Convention on Biological Diversity

I. Current Status of Biodiversity in China
(1) Overview
China is one of the 12 mega-biodiversity countries in the world. The main ecosystems
in China include territorial ecosystems, such as forest, shrub, meadow, steppe, desert,
wetland; and major marine ecosystems such as the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South
China Sea and Kuroshio Basin. China has known 34,984 higher plants, ranking the
third in the world. China also has 6,445 vertebrate animal species, accounting for
13.7% of the total in the world. The fungi species known in China are more than
10,000, making up 14% of the total in the world.
China has rich genetic resources and a country of origin of many important
agricultural crops such as rice and soybean, as well as a key center of origin of wild
and cultivated fruit trees. According to incomplete statistics, there are 1,339 cultivated
crops and 1,930 wild relatives in China and the fruit tree species rank top in the world.
China has 567 species of domesticated animals, being one of the countries with the
most diverse domesticated animals in the world.
(2) Threats to biodiversity in China
Functions of some ecosystems are being constantly degraded. The monopoly of
forest plantations in China has led to low pest resistance of forests. 90% of grasslands
have been degraded by varying degrees. Inland fresh water ecosystems are threatened
and some important wetlands have been degraded. Marine and coastal species and
their habitats are being constantly lost and marine fishery resources have declined.
The status of endangered species is being exacerbated. It is estimated that 15%to
20% of wild higher plants in China are endangered. Among them, over 40% of
gymnosperms and orchids are endangered. The status of endangered wild animals
continues to worsen, with 233 vertebrate animal species facing extinction, the number
of about 44% of wild animals declining, as well as the populations of non-protected
wild animals decreasing significantly.
Erosion and loss of genetic resources is continuing. The habitats of some wild crop
relatives have been destroyed and lost. 60%to 70% of the original distribution sites of
wild rice have disappeared or shrunk. Some rare and endemic germplasm resources
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