Abstract:

Objective: This study aims to clarify the compositional structure of medicinal plant resources in the Three-North Shelter Forest Project (TNSP, also known as the Great Green Wall Project) area, characterize species diversity with species richness, and reveal the distribution differences of medicinal plant resources among the three major “battle zones” and three types of regions (core battle zone, coordinated promotion zone, consolidation and expansion zone). Furthermore, this study identified hotspots for conservation and utilization, and selected typical medicinal plant resources suitable for development and utilization in each region, thereby providing a scientific basis and decision-making support for regional ecological management and collaborative promotion of the traditional Chinese medicine industry. Method: In this study, multi-source data was integrated to construct a medicinal plant inventory and its distribution database for the TNSP, and statistically analyze the characteristics of medicinal plant species richness at the levels of county-level administrative regions, the three major “battle zones”, and the three types of regions. The complementary algorithm and species richness ranking methods were employed to identify hotspots of medicinal plants suitable for development and utilization or in need of priority protection. Furthermore, typical medicinal plants were selected based on their distribution breadth and relevant authoritative inventories. Result: 1) There are 7 693 medicinal species in the TNSP (accounting for 45.5% of the total plant species in this region and 50.2% of the national total of medicinal plants). These plants include 1 745 endemic species, 174 national key protected wild medicinal plants, 279 threatened species, 1 820 medicinal plants for ecological engineering construction, 326 original plants of commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal materials, and 100 original plants of Dao-di herbs from their Dao-di producing regions. 2) The average medicinal plant species richness in counties is 431 ± 291. The high species richness areas are primarily concentrated in the Greater Khingan Range, Changbai Mountain, Taihang Mountain, Qilian Mountain, and Tian Mountains, while low medicinal species richness areas are mainly located in the Gashun Gobi, Qaidam Basin, Hexi Corridor, Haihe Plain, and Northeast Plain. 3) There is significant heterogeneity in the distribution of medicinal plant resources. Within three major “battle zones”, the Yellow River “Ji”-shaped bend battle zone has the highest species richness for both total medicinal plants and regionally unique medicinal plants, and Dao-di herbs and commonly used traditional Chinese medicines are concentrated here. In contrast, the Korqin and Hunshandake Sands elimination zone has relatively low species richness. Among three types of regions, the pattern of medicinal plant species richness is roughly as follows: coordinated promotion zone > core battle zone > consolidation and expansion zone. 4) A total of 115 hotspot counties were identified for the development and utilization of medicinal plants, and 143 hotspot counties were identified to be prioritized for protection. There were 70 counties overlapping between the two categories. 5) Based on the needs of ecological engineering construction and the development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry, a total of 28 typical medicinal plants suitable for development and utilization were selected by region, including 15 medicinal plants for ecological engineering construction and 14 original species of commonly used traditional Chinese medicine and Dao-di herbs. Conclusion: The medicinal plant resources in the TNSP are abundant but unevenly distributed. Therefore, it is recommended to implement differential resource protection and utilization strategies based on the identified hotspots of medicinal plants and a list of typical medicinal plants available for development and utilization. In the Yellow River “Ji”-shaped bend battle zone, the development of Dao-di herbs industry should be prioritized; in the Hexi Corridor-Taklamakan Desert perimeter battle zone, medicinal plants that can prevent wind and stabilize sand should be selected to construct ecological barriers; in the Korqin and Hunshandake Sands elimination zone, the application of local medicinal plants in ecological restoration should be strengthened; in the coordinated promotion zone, sustainable utilization under the principle of protection priority should be adhered to; and in theconsolidation and expansion zone, the upgrading of characteristic medicinal materials industry should be promoted. The above strategies may offer a decision-making reference for the high-quality coordinated development of ecology, economy, and society in the TNSP.

Key words: Three-North Shelter Forest Project, medicinal plant, biodiversity, resource conservation, industrial development