Saving the Himalayan Garden: Scientists Race Against Time

Imagine Earth’s most epic botanical treasure hunt – where 20,000+ plant species thrive in the Pan-Himalayas’ extreme altitudes and ever-shifting terrain. Now, climate shifts and geological chaos threaten this fragile ecosystem, sparking a modern-day rescue mission led by botanical warriors.

Meet Prof. Hong Deyuan and Wang Qian from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the dynamic duo cataloging this biodiversity hotspot since 2011. Their international expeditions read like a nature documentary meets Indiana Jones – battling altitude sickness, landslides, and glaciers to preserve plants found nowhere else on Earth.

Why care? This region houses 1/15th of all global higher plant species, many with untapped medicinal or ecological superpowers. But melting ice caps and seismic activity could erase them before we even learn their names.

Through collaborations with scientists from 12+ countries, the team uses drones, DNA analysis, and good old-fashioned fieldwork to create a 'Noah’s Ark' of botanical data. Their work could help future-proof crops, develop new medicines, and predict climate impacts.

As Prof. Hong told researchers last month: “Every plant we lose is a chapter torn from Earth’s survival manual.” With 30% of surveyed species now labeled 'at risk,' this race against the clock just got real.

Reference(s):

Trailblazer: Protecting the Himalayan garden

cgtn.com