Trait‐Based Prediction of Extinction Risk and Conservation Strategy for Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants in China

Journal article

Summary: Many plants, including those used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), are vital for human health and commerce but face increasing threats from human activities and climate change. However, many species have not been formally assessed for extinction risk, making it difficult to prioritize conservation efforts. We created a database of 580 TCM plant species and used predictive models to identify factors that contribute to extinction risk. We found that plants with smaller geographic distributions, narrower elevational ranges, shorter growth forms, and those harvested for parts other than fruits or seeds were more likely to be at risk. Among 95 species lacking formal assessments, 16 were predicted to be threatened. Our study also highlighted provinces such as Guangxi and Guangdong as emerging hotspots for at‐risk medicinal plants. These findings emphasize the need for urgent conservation actions to protect vulnerable TCM plants and fill critical protection gaps.

Authors: Zheng, Y; Zhao, J; Liao, W; Hinsley, A; Lee, TM

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Integrative Conservation
• Article number: inc3.70076
• Publication date: 2026-03-19
• Acceptance date: 2026-02-06
• DOI: 10.1002/inc3.70076
• EISSN: 2770-9329
• ISSN: 2770-9329
• Language: English
• Keywords: conservation prioritization; comparative analysis; 比较分析; 红色名录; random forests; 随机森林; 脆弱性; Red List; 保护优先性; vulnerability