The Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in south China's Hainan Province has one of the most concentrated, best preserved and largest contiguous tropical rainforests in China. It covers nine cities and counties, with a total area of 4,400 square kilometers, or about one-seventh of Hainan Island's land area. It is an important part of the world's tropical rainforests and a key area for biodiversity conservation in China.
The park is home to about 20 percent of China's amphibian species, 33 percent of its reptile species, 38.6 percent of its bird species, and 20 percent of its mammal species. It is also the only habitat of Hainan gibbon, a rare primate whose population recovered to five groups, a total of 35 individuals, in 2021.
In late March, researchers discovered eight new macrofungi species in the park. These species can decompose cellulose and lignin, playing an important role in the decomposition process of the rainforest's ecosystem.
The forestry authority said efforts will be made to complete the ecological relocation in the park's core areas and close all small hydropower stations inside the park this year.
(Images designed by CGTN's Yu Peng)
(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)