Introduction

World Natural Heritage refers to geological and physical geographical structures of outstanding universal value from an esthetic or scientific perspective, as well as areas designated as habitats for threatened animals and plants; and natural attractions or demarcated natural areas of outstanding universal value from the perspectives of science, conservation or natural beauty1. Karst is a general term for the geological processes in which water chemically erodes soluble rocks (such as carbonate rocks, gypsum, and rock salt), supplemented by mechanical actions like fluvial erosion, subsurface erosion and collapse, as well as the phenomena resulting from these processes2. The landforms formed by karst processes are called karst landforms2,3. Karst is one of the most remarkable landscapes in the world. Southern China is the largest region in the world where exposed karst is concentrated and contiguous4. South China Karst has the most prominent types of karst landforms, such as tower and conical karst, and magnificent and unique karst landscapes like natural bridges and tiankeng (giant sinkholes), representing one of the most spectacular tropical to subtropical karst landform samples in the world. South China Karst also is the general name of a series of world natural heritage projects submitted by the Chinese government to the World Heritage Center of UNESCO in batches for application5. The Libo-Huanjiang Karst World Natural Heritage Site is located in Guizhou Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. Libo and Huanjiang sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007 and 2014, respectively, for meeting World Heritage Evaluation Criteria (vii) (esthetic value criteria) and Criteria (viii) (geological and geomorphological value criteria)6. The Libo-Huanjiang site is an important part of South China Karst series of world natural heritage sites and an outstanding representative of conical karst.

World Natural Heritage site is not only the shining star in the long history and culture of humanity on Earth, but also safeguard the regions with the richest biodiversity on the planet, playing an indispensable role in maintaining the integrity of ecosystems and biodiversity7. Although World Natural Heritage sites around the world account for less than 1% of the Earth’s surface area, they are home to over 20% of the known species, providing a haven for a wide variety of animals and plants7. In terms of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), a total of 150 existing World Natural Heritage sites and mixed heritage sites meeting Criterion (x) with the primary aim of biodiversity conservation, accounting for over 60% of the total 241 sites8. World Natural Heritage sites have extremely important value in terms of ecosystem and biodiversity conservations. At present, studies on the protection and management of biodiversity in World Natural Heritage sites mainly focuses on aspects such as whether the natural heritage is effectively protected and managed, whether the management is scientific and reasonable, and whether its value is fully utilized and reflected9,10,11,12,13,14. For example, in the Nimba Mountains, a World Natural Heritage site, studies on the conservation effectiveness of the flagship species Nimbaphrynoides occidentalis were conducted15. Sun (2010) studied the existing problems of protection countermeasures of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan, a World Natural Heritage site, and put forward some relevant management and protection suggestions16. Judging from the progress of relevant studies in recent years, the research on the protection and management of biodiversity in World Natural Heritage sites still needs further analysis in terms of biodiversity status, protected objects, geographical distribution, protection forms, and management institutions.

The Libo-Huanjiang Heritage Site is located within the largest contiguous karst area in the world. It features unique and diverse karst landforms, fully representing the process and forms of the evolution of conical karst landforms17. Within the heritage site, peaks rise one after another with a significant elevation difference. Thanks to its favorable ecological environment and special geographical location, it has become a natural refuge for many animals and plants during the process of geographical evolution, boasting an extremely rich variety of plant species18. However, since the Libo-Huanjiang Heritage Site was inscribed on the World Natural Heritage List for meeting World Heritage Evaluation Criteria (vii) for esthetic value and Criteria (viii) for geological and geomorphological value, the investigation of the vegetation communities and plant diversity within the heritage site remains insufficient, and the value of plant conservation is not very clear. As a result, there are some problems and challenges in the current protection of plants and habitats. Therefore, in the present study, firstly, an in-depth investigation of the vegetation communities and plant species in the heritage site was conducted. Then, the vegetation types, flora, rare and endangered species, and endemic species in this area were analyzed. Finally, the problems existing in plant conservation within the heritage site are sorted out and corresponding management countermeasures are proposed, aiming to provide technical support for the protection and management of biodiversity in the heritage site. This study has important reference significance for the protection, management, and development of biodiversity in World Natural Heritage sites.

Methods

Study area

The Libo-Huanjiang conical karst world natural heritage site is located at the junction of Libo County in Guizhou Province and Huanjiang County in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwest China (25°03′–25°47′ N, 107°24′ - 108°19′ E) (Fig. 1). It is a typical representative of the karst landform area with conical peak clusters in the mid-subtropical zone. The heritage site covers an area of 366.47 km2, with a buffer zone of 479.28 km2. The terrain in the area is higher in the west and lower in the east, with an average altitude of about 747 m. The altitude ranges from 385 m to 1109 m. The area has a typical mid-subtropical mountainous humid climate, with a mild climate. The annual average temperature is 15°C, and the precipitation is abundant, with an annual average precipitation of 1752 mm, mainly concentrated from April to October. The vegetation in the area is typical subtropical karst forest ecosystem, which is considered one of the most intact and valuable ecosystems within this latitude range19. The area has significant biodiversity and is an important habitat for many endemic and endangered animals and plants. There are numerous indigenous residents within the heritage site, and the proportion of ethnic minorities accounts for 94% of the total population19. Tourism is booming in this heritage site. In 2024, it received a total of 18.91 million tourists.

Fig. 1: Location of study area and plant survey routes.
figure 1

The regions surrounded by red lines are the core areas of the heritage site. The regions between red lines and yellow lines are the buffer areas of the heritage site. The thick dark blue lines are the plant survey routes in the present study. The baby blue lines represent the rivers. The degrees of green represent the elevation in the heritage site.

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Plant survey

The plant investigation was conducted manly by field survey using the random route method and supplemented by literature searching. According to the vegetation types and their distribution in the Libo-Huanjiang Natural Heritage Site, the three places of Maolan, Huanjiang, and Xiaoqikong were selected as the survey centers, respectively. Five survey routes were evenly set for each center (Fig. 1). Each route runs through various habitats from the center to the buffer zone of the heritage site. The plant field survey and literature searching of the entire heritage site were completed from 2023 to 2024. Meanwhile, the status of plant protection was also investigated through group discussions and interviews, data review, and on-site surveys.

Specimen identification and data processing

During the investigation, plant specimens were collected and identified along the survey routes, and the collection and identification results were recorded using the Biotracks APP. The collected specimens were classified, sorted, identified, and their information was digitized. The investigation results were further improved by the existing plant distribution literatures, including “Flora of China”20, “Illustrated Handbook of Higher Plants”21, “Flora of Guizhou”22, “Flora of Guangxi”23, the Chinese Plant Image Database (http://ppbc.iplant.cn), and some journal papers24,25,26,27,28, and the plant investigation reports of the heritage site.

Data analysis

Referring to the lists of rare and endangered plants29 and the lists of national key protected plants promulgated by the state30, the species of rare and endangered plants and national key protected plants in the heritage site were counted (Table S1). The data statistics and analysis were conducted by the soft of Microsoft Excel 2007. The study area and plant survey routes were drawn by ArcGIS 10.8.

Investigation of protection status and proposal of protection strategies

Based on the investigation of the vegetation and plant diversity in the heritage site, and based on the analysis of species diversity, rare and endangered animals and plants, endemic animals and plants, and biological habitats, the current situation of the protection and management of the plant diversity in the heritage site was further sorted out. In view of the key points of the protection of the vegetation and plant diversity in the heritage site, relevant management and protection suggestions were put forward.

Results

Vegetation type

The forest coverage rate in the heritage site is 96.6%, with a total forest stock volume of 6.96 × 105 m3. The average forest stock volume per hectare is 69.5 m3. The heritage site can be divided into three parts: the eastern, the central and the western. The forest in the central part is dense, tall, contiguous, and well-preserved, while the forests in the eastern and western parts are slightly less so. The main forest vegetation types in the heritage site are primary evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forests and deciduous broad-leaved forests (Fig. 2). The common vegetation types are as follows: subtropical coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests, subtropical mountainous deciduous broad-leaved forests, subtropical evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forests, bamboo forests, shrubs, grasslands and artificial forests. The natural vegetation can be divided into four vegetation type groups, six vegetation types and 22 plant formations or associations (Table 1).

Fig. 2
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Vegetation landscapes of limestone evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest in the heritage site.

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Table 1 Vegetation types in the heritage site
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Plant species diversity

According to the investigation, there are 1207 species of vascular plants belonging to 624 genera and 179 families in the heritage site. Among them, there are 120 species of ferns belonging to 57 genera and 30 families, 17 species of gymnosperms belonging to 11 genera and seven families, and 1070 species of angiosperms belonging to 556 genera and 142 families (Table 2). Among the angiosperms, 156 species of orchids belong to 53 genera. The species-to-genus ratio is 2.94. There are numerous monotypic genera and oligotypic genera (2–4 species in a genus). There are 13 monotypic genera in the heritage site, including Nandina Thunb., Houttuynia Thunb., Zenia Chun, Perilla Linn., Cynanchum Linn., Kalopanax Miq., Handeliodendron Rehd., Eurycorymbus Hand. -Mazz, Toddalia A. Juss., Pilea Lindl., Malaisia Blanco, Pteroceltis Maxim., and Tetrathyrium Benth. There are 7 oligotypic genera in the heritage site, including Stachyurus Sieb. et Zucc., Phryma L., Kmeria Dandy, Itoa Hemsl., Chukrasia A. Juss., Boniodendron Gagnep., and Gelsemium Juss. Most of these are limestone endemics, and some are endemic to China. In addition, there are 68 species of macrofungi belonging to 66 genera, 30 families and 12 orders growing in the heritage site. Among them, there are edible fungi such as Auricularia auricula and Cantharellus cibarius, medicinal fungi with health care functions such as Ganoderma lucidum and Coriolus versicolor, and truffles with unique taste and flavor, which are known as “diamonds in the kitchen” and “gold in the forest” in Europe and America.

Table 2 Vascular plant species in the heritage site
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Flora characteristics

According to the zoning system proposed by Takhtajan (1978)31, the heritage site belongs to the Holarctic Kingdom and the Sino-Japanese Forest Vegetation Subregion. According to the biogeographical zoning system of Udvardy (1975)32, this area is in the transitional zone between the Chinese Subtropical Forest Province and the Eastern Deciduous Forest Province of the Palearctic Realm. Referring to the division of the China flora by Wu et al. (2011)33, the vascular plants in the heritage site have 15 floristic geographical distribution patterns (Table 3). Although the relative altitude difference within the heritage site is not large, the vertical distribution of vegetation is evident. Below an altitude of 600 m, tropical flora is dominant; above 600 m, subtropical or temperate flora is dominant. Overall, the flora in the heritage site is predominantly composed of tropical or subtropical plants, which account for 72.73% of the total plant species. Among them, plants of the Tropical Asian distribution and Pantropical distribution are the main components. There are also a certain number of genera of vascular plants with endemic distribution in China, accounting for 2.14% of the total plant genera. Judging from the dominant species or constructive species that make up various vegetation types, as well as the main and common species in the floristic composition, subtropical plants are dominant, with the ranking being subtropical plants > tropical-subtropical plants > tropical plants > temperate plants.

Table 3 Floristic (genera) geographical distribution patterns of the heritage site
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Rare or endangered species

There were 27 species of vascular plants in the heritage site listed in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red List of Species. Among them, 2 species are critically endangered (CR), 4 are endangered (EN), 9 are vulnerable (VU), 4 are near threatened (NT), 1 has deficient data (DD), and 7 are of least concern (LC) (Table 4). There were 15 endangered plant species under severe threat, accounting for about 55% of the total. The plants listed in the China Species Red List involve 155 species, including 9 CR species, 38 EN species, 56 VU species, 46 NT species, and 6 LC species. There were 103 endangered plant species under severe threat, accounting for about 66% of the total. The endemism of these species is extremely significant, such as Michelia angustioblonga Law et Y. F. Wu, Paphiopedilum emersonii Koopowitz. et P. J. Cribb, and Paphiopedilum malipoense S. C. Chen et Z. H. Tsi. In addition, among the vascular plants in the heritage site, 5 species are listed in Appendix I, 135 species in Appendix II, and 1 species in Appendix III of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendices List of Species.

Table 4 Rare and endangered vascular plant species in the heritage site
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According to the List of National Key Protected Wild Plants of China30, there are 32 plants under first-class national key protection in the heritage site, such as Taxus chinensis, Metabriggsia ovalifolia, Handeliodendron bodinieri, and Kmeria septentrionalis. And there are 121 plants under second-class national key protection in the heritage site, including Cibotium barometz, Cephalotaxus oliveri, Calocedrus macrolepis, Pinus kwangtungensis, Pseudotsuga brevifolia, Cinnamomum camphora, Machilus nanmu, Zenia insignis, Manglietia aromatica, Camptotheca acuminata, and Eurycorymbus cavalcrici. Many rare plants in the heritage site, such as Kmeria septentrionalis, Calocedrus macrolepis, Handeliodendron bodinieri, Paphiopedilum emersonii, and Paphiopedilum malipoense, are widely and extensively distributed. In particular, the rare plant Kmeria septentrionalis, which was rediscovered after being missing for half a century, is widely distributed in the heritage site (Fig. 3). The largest community area reaches 18.7 hm2 in the heritage site. So far, it is the largest contiguous, best-preserved, and most stable forest community of Kmeria septentrionalis known in the world.

Fig. 3
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The photo of world’s largest Kmeria septentriolata forest community in the heritage site.

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Endemic plant

There are numerous typical endemic species of limestone distributed within the heritage site. There are 12 genera endemic to China, that is, Handeliodendron, Camptotheca, Ampelocalamus, Pteroceltis, Eurycorymbus, Heteroplexis, Synotis, Metabriggsia, Tetrapanax, Melliodendron, Dysosma, and Distylium. These are all monotypic or oligotypic genera, and most are national key protected plants with obvious conservation value. Among them, Heteroplexis vernonioides of genus Heteroplexis was initially distributed on the limestone hills in the southwest of Guangxi Province of China. However, it was not rediscovered and was thought to be extinct for a long time. In recent years, it was rediscovered on the top of a mountain with an altitude of 800 meters in Hongdong in the south of this heritage site, which is the northernmost distribution boundary of this genus. So far, 12 endemic species, endemic to Huanjiang County of China, have been discovered in the heritage site (Table 5), that is, Pinus calcarea, Beilschmiedia ovoidea, Cryptocarya microcarpa, Clematis revaluta, Berberis candidula, Dicentra guangxiensis, Leptopus huanjiangensis, Pithecellobium multifoliolata, Distylium ferruginea, Vaccinium huanjiangense, Hemiboea magnibracteata, and Ilex pseudokudingcha.

Table 5 Endemic plant species in the heritage site
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There are also 2 newly recorded genera in Guangxi of China distributed within the heritage site: Dicentra and Ampelocalamus, as well as 12 newly recorded species in Guangxi of China within the heritage site: Cinnamomum caudiferum, Cephalotaxus fortunei var. concolor, Michelia angustioblonga, Distylium cuspidatum, Acer lucidum, Acer paxii, Rhododendron ambiguum, Vaccinium pseudotonkinense, Symplocos urceolaris, Lonicera sp., Ampelocalamus calcareus, and Phaius columnaris.

Problems faced by plant protection of the heritage site

On the basis of the investigation of the vegetation and plant diversity in the heritage site, and through on-site surveys and interviews, it has been found that although a great deal of conservation and management work has been carried out in the heritage site in strict accordance with the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage34,35,36, there are still some obvious problems and challenges in the protection of the heritage site.

The supervision and management system is not smooth, and the quality of the management team needs to be obviously improved. There is a lack of specific regulations and teams for the management of the buffer zone of the heritage site, resulting in insufficient protection. The buffer zone overlaps with the nature reserves established earlier, leading to scattered management responsibilities and overlapping functions. In particular, the approval and control requirements for construction activities related to infrastructure and livelihood projects are not clear, and the supervision system is imperfect. In the management of the heritage site, there is a shortage of scientific and technological personnel, with a single professional structure and an unreasonable allocation. There is also a severe lack of professionals in ecology, wildlife, and other relevant fields.

The infrastructure is not enough, and the comprehensive management and protection capacity needs to be improved. The software and hardware facilities such as the management network, patrol and monitoring network, wildlife protection, forest fire prevention and control, pest control, scientific research and monitoring, power transmission lines in forestry areas, and fire prevention roads in the heritage site need to be further improved. The professional quality and capacity of the management team still cannot meet the management needs of the World Natural Heritage Site. The number of signs and boundary markers in the heritage site is insufficient, and their positions are not prominent. In particular, warning signs and boundary markers at entrances and exits, community villages and other places are not obvious, which does not meet the regulations.

The capacity for scientific research and monitoring is weak, and community publicity and popular need to be improved. The heritage site has insufficient facilities for scientific research and monitoring, and the technical means are backward, which cannot meet the needs of conducting scientific research and monitoring work. The management department of the heritage site lacks professional and technical personnel, especially those with skills in satellite remote sensing, image processing, geographic information, overall planning, patrol inspection, and ecological monitoring. It is necessary to strengthen the capacity for scientific research, protection and management. The study and research activities in the heritage site are still in the initial stage. There are relatively few study and research bases, and there is a lack of supporting courses and full-time instructors.

Management strategies faced by plant protection of the heritage site

In response to these above problems and challenges, and based on the conservation situation of plant diversity and biological habitats in the heritage site, management countermeasures and suggestions are put forward as follows.

Establishing an adaptive management model based on the value of biodiversity conservation is urgent. Currently, the heritage site’s protection and management system remains largely based on the original nature reserve framework37,38. There is a lack of a substantive system specifically designed to safeguard the site’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). To address this, the site should develop a comprehensive technical system for biodiversity conservation, maintenance, restoration, and cross-regional or cross-border protection, tailored to the diverse protection values such as ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and critical habitats. An adaptive management model should be established to enable fine-grained protection and management of the site’s biodiversity.

Carrying out publicity and guidance, and encouraging the public to actively participate in protection and management is necessary. These measures should be conducted: (1) enhancing public awareness of ecosystem conservation and nature protection by popularizing the heritage site’s value, (2) guiding the media to report accurately on protection efforts to foster rational public understanding and encourage active participation in management, actively disseminating knowledge about environmental resource protection to raise awareness among residents and tourists and curb destructive behaviors, and strictly controlling tourism development projects to ensure moderate use of scenic areas and tourism facilities. These measures can realize prioritize biodiversity conservation as well as the integrity of forest ecosystems, karst landforms, and cave landscapes to achieve a balance between resource protection and sustainable utilization.

Strengthening the management and protection of ecological resources is important. An intelligent, remote and all-weather video surveillance and patrol system should be established. The digital patrol system should be employed for field surveillance to monitor the invasion of alien species, the dynamics of organisms, and the development of tourism projects in real time so as to protect biodiversity and prevent damage to organisms39,40. By monitoring through field patrol terminal applications and visual systems, the management personnel can keep track of the monitoring dynamics of forest rangers at any time, intervene in various destructive activities in a timely manner, and improve the quality of patrols. By applying technological means and digital monitoring systems, the natural environment can be protected more comprehensively and timely, promoting the maintenance of ecological balance.

Paying attention to community participation and jointly protecting the heritage site is significant. The protection and management of heritage sites cannot neglect the role of community participation and civil organizations41,42. It is necessary to promote the common development of scenic areas and communities, actively publicize the value of the heritage site, arouse the sense of property and cultural pride among community residents, and encourage them to voluntarily participate in the protection and management of the heritage site. The outstanding traditional ethnic culture of the local area is an important part of the heritage site. Only by giving full play to the role of ethnic culture can better protection and inheritance be achieved. Therefore, regular education and training should be provided for local residents to assist them in innovating tourism products and services.

Discussion

The heritage site is located within the largest continuous karst area in the world. Under the combined action of geological tectonic uplift and the dissolution of surface and groundwater, the continuously distributed dolomitic limestone has developed unique and diverse karst landforms, which fully represent the process and forms of the evolution of cone karst landforms43. It is not only a typical representative of karst landforms in the world but also an outstanding type of continental landforms. Under the tropical-subtropical climate conditions, the heritage site has formed vegetation types and ecosystems that are adapted to karst landforms44. The heritage site is located in the Palearctic Chinese Subtropical Forest Province (2.1.2) in the biogeographical zoning system of Udvardy (1975)32, the Southeast China—Hainan Moist Forests (23) in the Global 200 Priority Ecoregions of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)45, and the endemic bird areas of the Chinese Subtropical Forest Region (140) and the Mountainous Region of Southeast China (141) in the Global Endemic Bird Areas of BirdLife International. The heritage site is also a globally important bird area for the conservation of the Pitta nympha, Oriolus mellianus, and Syrmaticus ellioti recognized by BirdLife International. It can be seen that the heritage site is one of the priority ecological areas for the conservation of global biodiversity and its habitats.

The heritage site is located on the southeastern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in China. It is a mountainous plateau zone where the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau transitions to the low mountains and hills in Guangxi. It is also a transitional area between the second and third terraces of China’s stepped terrain. The forest vegetation in the heritage site lies in the transitional zone between the humid evergreen broad-leaved forest and the semi-humid evergreen broad-leaved forest within the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest region46. It shows a gradual transition from low to medium altitudes and from plateau karst to low mountain and hilly karst areas. The main forest types are the mixed evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forest in the mid-subtropical karst region and the climax community of the deciduous broad-leaved forest in the mid-subtropical karst region47. This constitutes a typical subtropical karst vegetation succession series. It is a karst primeval forest with unique types, a large preserved area, and continuous distribution on the same latitude zone. It preserves the largest, most concentrated, most pristine, and relatively stable karst forest ecosystem remaining in areas at the same latitude on Earth today48. It is the most typical representative of the conical karst forest ecosystem globally. The plant communities have a complex composition, with typical characteristics such as drought tolerance, lithophytic growth, and calcium preference. They have prominent local endemism and outstanding conservation value.

The heritage site landform is characterized by numerous overlapping peaks and a significant elevation difference. Its favorable ecological environment and unique geographical location have made it a natural refuge for many organisms during the process of geographical evolution, with an extremely rich variety of plant species49. The present results show that there are 1207 species of vascular plants in the heritage site, belonging to 624 genera and 179 families. Among them, 27 species are listed in the IUCN Red List, 156 species are listed in the China Species Red List, 142 species are listed in the CITES Species List, and 154 species are listed in the National Key Protected Wild Plants List of China. In addition, the heritage site has numerous ancient and relict plant species. There are 16 species of gymnosperms, belonging to 10 genera and 7 families, and 72 species of angiosperms, belonging to 26 genera and 9 families, all of which have an ancient origin. Species such as Calocedrus macrolepis and Pinus kwangtungensis, originating from ancient times, can be found on almost every mountain top. There are also 12 genera of plants endemic to China, 12 species endemic to Huanjiang County, 13 monotypic genera, and 7 oligotypic genera in the heritage site. For example, Handeliodendron is a monotypic genus endemic to China, a species endemic to the karst forests in southern China, a first-class protected wild plant in China, and an ancient relict plant49. It is of great significance for studying the phylogenetic relationship between families of Sapindaceae and Hippocastanaceae, as well as plant phylogeny and floristics. These ancient relict plants are the products of karstification and its evolutionary development, and they have important recording significance for the changes in the geographical environment50. It can be seen that the heritage site is one of the most important natural habitat for in-situ biodiversity conservation and has important conservation significance on a global scale.

The heritage site is the most outstanding representative of the cone karst in South China Karst where it is located. Compared with other similar world natural heritage sites and non-heritage sites with comparable conditions around the world, the heritage site exhibits extremely remarkable biodiversity. There are 1207 species of vascular plants belonging to 624 genera and 179 families in the heritage site. The heritage site serves as a habitat and refuge for numerous rare, endangered and endemic species, and possesses outstanding and universal scientific and conservation value. Among the vascular plants of this heritage site, 27 species are listed in the IUCN Red List, 156 species are listed in the China Species Red List, 142 species are listed in CITES, and 154 species are listed in the National Key Protected Wild Plant List of China. Although a great deal of conservation and management work has been carried out in the heritage site in strict accordance with the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, there are still some obvious problems and challenges in the protection of the heritage site. In view of the biodiversity conservation value of the heritage site, corresponding protection countermeasures are put forward in terms of establishing an adaptive management model based on the biodiversity conservation value, actively carrying out publicity and guidance, encouraging the public to participate in conservation and management, strengthening the protection and management of ecological resources and paying attention to community participation, so as to provide technical support and auxiliary decision-making for the biodiversity conservation and management of the heritage site.