HAIKOU/China/, October 13. /TASS/. At least 28 new species of animal and plant species have been discovered in the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in the few years since its establishment, the Hainan International Communication Network (HICN) wrote, citing data from a recently published report released by the park's administration on its development from 2019 to 2022.
These include nine new plant species, six animal species and 13 mushroom species. As the ecology of Hainan's rainforest has improved, the population of the Hainan gibbon has also increased from 30 specimens in 2019 to 36 in 2022. This species is on the verge of extinction and is found only on Hainan Island.
Studies show that there are currently more than 3,600 species of vascular plants belonging to 220 families in the tropical forests of Hainan. Of these, 428 species occur only in Hainan.
Scientists have also discovered that each hectare of Hainan rainforest can absorb up to 2 tons of carbon per year. At the same time, this figure increases by an average of 3-4% per year as new plants grow. All of this, HICN writes, will play a role in achieving the goal of carbon neutrality.
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park was officially created on October 12, 2021. Over the past year, authorities have taken a package of measures to preserve its biodiversity. One of the most striking examples of success, the resource notes, is the preservation and increase in the population of the Hainan gibbon. The local authorities also have international cooperation projects to protect Hainan's rainforest.