Salvation of rare and endangered medicinal plants

Abstract

At present, a large amount of species are facing with serious threats even dying out. Corresponding protective measures set standards for grading precious and endangered animals and plants. Therefore, we need to know the precious and endangered medicinal animals and plants and the currently used standards for grading them. This chapter will firstly introduce the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Categories and Criteria, CITES appendix standards, U.S. Endangered Species Act, endangered species criteria, grading standards for China Plant Red Data Book, grading standards for the endangered of red list, and the national directory standards of wild animals under special protection. The genetic diversities are the bases of evolution and species differentiations, while the hereditary varieties are equal to genetic diversities. The genetic composition of species determines its characteristics, which include its adaptability to certain environment and its utilizability for humans. Any specific individuals and species keep plenty of genetic types. To that extent, these individuals and species are considered as independent gene banks. The genetic diversities including the genetic varying degrees in molecular, cellular, and individual levels are the bases of biological evolution and species differentiations. To keep the genetic diversity of one species, if there is no genetic information available, it will be needed to protect the majority of the species and a vast enough environment for supporting the species and preventing from inbreeding and genetic drifting. Therefore, understanding the genetic diversity will help reduce the number of species for protection, so that it will then reduce the competitive paradox between the reduction of costs and the usage of soil. For the protection of the endangered plants and animals, in-site and off-site conservation principles will be adopted, that is, in the original sites protect the ecological environment for preserving the species and breeding the wild species and off the original sites protect and breed the species. Therefore, understanding the genetic diversity and the extinct mechanism of the rare and endangered plants and animals is of importance for protecting them.