On 2 September 2025, a conservation project focusing on ex situ protection of threatened wild plants in Xinjiang, China, was awarded to the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It will be implemented at the Yili and Turpan Eremophytes Botanical Gardens, both under the Institute. Funded by the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Forestry and Grassland Bureau, the project will run to June 2026.

Xinjiang, a globally significant arid region, hosts a unique and diverse flora, including numerous endemic and threatened species. This initiative aims to establish an ex situ conservation programme for over 50 key protected plant species, such as Arnebia euchroma, Saussurea involucrata and Cynomorium songaricum. The project will use the specialized facilities of the two botanical gardens to create simulated native habitats—including desert–montane transition zones, extreme stress resistance areas, and alpine climate simulators—to enhance plant survival and population stability.

Key technical components include seed banking, propagation through cutting and grafting, and tissue culture. The project will also establish a database to record the biogeographical distribution, key biological characteristics and ecological needs of protected species.

This project is an important step towards safeguarding the genetic diversity of Xinjiang’s unique flora, which is threatened by habitat degradation and population decline. It is expected to provide vital germplasm resources and scientific support for future ecological restoration efforts and sustainable utilization initiatives in arid regions.

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32170386).