Distribution and conservation status of forest bamboo biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific Region

• Published in: Biodiversity and conservation 2003-09, Vol.12 (9), p.1833-1833
• Main Authors: Bystriakova, N, Kapos, V, Lysenko, I, Stapleton, CMA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bamboo; Biodiversity; Biodiversity hot spots; Conservation status; Distribution patterns; Economic importance; Forest conservation; Forest products; Forests; Species richness
• ISSN: 0960-3115; 1572-9710
• DOI: 10.1023/a:1024139813651

Although Asian bamboo species constitute a non-timber forest product of major cultural and economic importance, no detailed regional assessment of their distribution patterns has previously been made. To assess the potential of the existing bamboo species distribution data for production of regional mapping tools for planning the conservation of forest-based biodiversity, data on bamboo distribution and forest cover were combined. Over 1000 bamboo species from 60 genera of woody bamboos were incorporated, allowing the mapping of individual species or groups of species and genera, along with potential species richness and biodiversity hotspots. Over 6.3 million km^sup 2^ of Asian forest potentially contains bamboo, with highest densities indicated from northeastern India through Burma to southern China, and through Sumatra to Borneo. The highest figures for potential species richness (144 spp per square km) were recorded in forests of south China, including Hainan Island. Despite substantial inadequacies and inconsistencies in knowledge of the taxonomy and distribution of bamboo species, this approach may provide a valuable tool for planning in situ conservation of forest biodiversity.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]