In a remote corner of southwest China's Yunnan Province, conservationists have uncovered a botanical treasure: over 3,000 endangered spider-monkey tree ferns (Alsophila spinulosa) thriving in a 428,000-acre forest reserve. The discovery, confirmed Thursday, offers new insights into China's biodiversity conservation efforts and the resilience of prehistoric flora.
The ancient ferns – some standing over 10 meters tall – were first spotted by wildlife filmmaker Zhou Baolin during a documentary scouting mission near De'an Town. "These towering ferns looked like living fossils," Zhou told China News Service. "Their spiral leaf patterns and rough trunks immediately reminded me of Jurassic-era vegetation."
Botanists describe the site as an ecological time capsule, with the moist valley environment creating ideal conditions for the fern species that dates back 180 million years. Local authorities have accelerated plans to establish specialized monitoring systems, while balancing eco-tourism potential with preservation needs.
This discovery coincides with China's intensified focus on biodiversity protection, particularly in Yunnan's mountainous regions that account for 15% of the country's protected plant species. Researchers hope genetic studies of these ferns could reveal evolutionary adaptations to climate change.
