Jiufeng Protected Area Biodiversity Threats Assessment

Located in the East of Wuhan City, Jiufeng Protected area is endowed with a rich biodiversity in diversitylandscape (Metasequoia forests, forest ponds, pine forest, Wetland pine, fir, cedar forest, Liquidambar forests,oak forests massoniana and lobular, Lin and mushroom). The objectives of this study were to assess andunderstand the biodiversity threats, evaluate activities, help prioritize and anticipate what threats might becomemore severe in the future. Threat assessment was based on a review of peer articles and secondary data sourcessuch as key informant interviews. Interviews with local and provincial authorities and visits in the field were heldto gather information on Jiufeng protected area resources and biodiversity threats. This research was carried out onJune 2009. The Interviews, the literature review and field report showed that the biodiversity is threatened by avariety of human activities and natural factors such as climate change and invasive alien species. These threatscan cause the biodiversity loss. In Jiufeng Protected Area, human activities such as land use and land coverchange, industrialization and pollution, tourism and recreation constitute threats for biodiversity.