Plant Diversity ›› 2020, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (06): 488-491.DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2021.01.004

• Short communication • Previous Articles    

Selecting flagship species to solve a biodiversity conservation conundrum

Jie Qiana, Huifu Zhuanga, Weikang Yangb, Yifeng Chend, Shilong Chenc, Yanhua Que, Yuanming Zhangb, Yongping Yanga, Yuhua Wanga   

  1. a Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China;
    b Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 818 South Beijing Road, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China;
    c Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 23 Xinning Road, Xining, 810008, Qinghai, China;
    d Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Donghu South Road, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China;
    e Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
  • Received:2020-10-16 Revised:2021-01-14 Online:2020-12-25 Published:2021-03-03
  • Contact: Yuhua Wang
  • Supported by:
    This research was funded by grants from Pan-Third Pole Environment Study for a Green Silk Road (Pan-TPE), Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA20050204).

Abstract: The difficulty of effectively monitoring and managing the environment to conserve biodiversity is as yet an unsolved conundrum. A project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has concluded that progress can be made through the use of flagship species selected using criteria drawn from conservation biology, ecosystem function, socio-economics, and cultural importance. Inclusion of the latter three criteria will help attract and maintain the commitment of the public to play full parts in carrying out any conservation measures needed. A system is proposed for scoring species to select those that are most suitable as flagships. This method can be used regardless of the size of the area chosen for attention, whether it is a region, a country, or a particular protected area.

Key words: Flagship species, Selection criteria, Biodiversity conservation, Proposed program