Deep in the remote mountains of southwest of the Chinese mainland's Yunnan Province, over 3,000 endangered spider-monkey tree ferns (Alsophila spinulosa) are thriving undisturbed across a 428,000-acre forest reserve. This remarkable find offers a living glimpse into a prehistoric world.
The discovery came to light last month when wildlife filmmaker Zhou Baolin was scouting near De'an Town for a nature documentary. I had seen it on television before, and thought these tall ferns resembled the ferns I'd studied, he said. He alerted local authorities, who confirmed the count of ancient specimens this Thursday.
Tree ferns like Alsophila spinulosa date back over 200 million years, long before dinosaurs vanished. Their leathery fronds and towering trunks create shaded understories that support diverse ecosystemsâproviding habitats for insects, amphibians, and ground-dwelling mammals.
Conservationists warn that these prehistoric plants remain vulnerable due to habitat loss and climate change. The newly surveyed reserve spans elevations from 1,800 to 2,500 meters, offering a stable microclimate that could be critical for the speciesâ long-term survival.
Finding such a large, healthy population is rare, says Li Ming, a botany researcher not involved in the expedition. This site could become a reference point for global conservation and climate resilience studies.
Local officials are now drafting plans to strengthen protections and boost eco-friendly monitoring. As the world seeks nature-based solutions for climate and biodiversity crises, Yunnanâs ancient ferns stand as silent guardians of our planetâs deep historyâand a beacon of hope for future conservation efforts.
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In pictures: Ancient tree ferns thrive in hidden Chinese forest
cgtn.com
