Studies on the Forest Vegetation of Xishuangbanna

Xishuangbanna in southern Yunnan is a global biodiversity hotspot. Based on physiognomic and ecological characteristics, floristic composition and habitats, the primary forest vegetation in Xishuangbanna can be categorized into seven main vegetation types and thirtytwo formations: tropical rainforest, tropical seasonal moist forest, tropical monsoon forest, tropical lower montane evergreen broadleaved forest, topical palm forest, tropical coniferous forest and bamboo forest. Due to conspicuous similarity in regards to ecological and floristic characteristics, the tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna is a type of tropical Asian rainforest. The monsoon forest in Xishuangbanna is a tropical deciduous forest under the influence of a strong monsoon climate and is considered a transitional vegetation type between tropical rainforest and savanna in physiognomy and distribution. The tropical montane evergreen broadleaved forest is the main montane vegetation type in the region. It is considered a distinct vegetation type from the northern margin of mainland southeastern Asia, controlled by a strong seasonal climate, based on its floristic and physiognomic characteristics. This article is a synthetic study on the vegetation of Xishuangbanna and the aim is to provide a reference for scientific research, biodiversity conservation and nature reserve management.