Vegetation communities and plant diversity of Libao-Huanjiang karst world natural heritage in South China

The Libo-Huanjiang heritage site serves as a natural refuge for many animals and plants, boasting an extremely rich plant species. There are a total of 1207 species of vascular plants in the heritage site, belonging to 624 genera and 179 families. Of these plants, 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 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and 154 species are listed in the National Key Protected Plants List of China. In light of the biodiversity conservation value of the heritage site, corresponding protection countermeasures were proposed to provide technical support and facilitate auxiliary decision-making for the biodiversity conservation and management of the heritage site. This study has important significance for protecting, managing, and developing biodiversity in World Natural Heritage sites.