L -Jiang’s scientific contributions

Taxus wallichiana Zucc. is globally recognized as a powerful anti-cancer tree that grows naturally in the Himalayas and parts of Southeast Asia. Needles and bark containing taxol are used to treat different types of cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the habitat suitability and potential threats of Taxus wallichiana Zucc. in Nepal. The suitable area for Taxus wallichiana Zucc. is about 11% (15781.59 km 2) of the total area of Nepal, mainly in the mountains and Himalayan regions of Nepal. While using the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) software to predict the potential distribution, elevation, isothermality (BIO-3), Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI), and land use/land cover were the most influential among 31 variables. The accuracy of the model was excellent with an average Area under the receiver-operator curve (AUC) of 0.96±0.002 and an average True Skills Statistics (TSS) of 0.66±0.038. While analyzing the top four key variables, altitude, isothermality, land use/land cover and NDVI mean were highly influenced for the model. Therefore, we might promote Taxus wallichiana with elevation range (1000-4200 m), isothermality (32%-52.5%), land use/land cover (forest type), and NDVI (0.3-0.8). Taxus wallichiana can be cultivated in 56 mountains and Himalayan districts of Nepal with an elevation from 1000 m to 4200 m above Mean Sea Level (MSL). The high-value medicinal plant itself became the cause of threats to natural habitats. The collection of bark and leaves for sale, over-grazing, heavy use in construction, and lack of awareness were the top causes of threats of Taxus wallichiana in Nepal. The Government of Nepal should start cultivation in 56 potential districts of Nepal so that it can be conserved locally and served to the world as raw material for research and production of anti-cancer drugs.

The main aim of the study was to predict the potential distribution, trade, and conservation of Rauvolfia serpentina in Nepal. We used 117 well-dispersed species occurrence points to run the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model with bioclimatic, topographic, vegetation-related, and anthropogenic variables. Twenty-four percent of Nepal's total land area is a potential habitat for R. serpentina. The potential area of R. serpentina in the protected area is 5,230.92 km 2 (15%). The accuracy of the model was excellent with an average Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) of 0.92±0.004 with an average True Skill Statistics (TSS) of 0.62±0.03. Nepal's Siwalik region is the best suitable habitat, followed by Terai and Middle Mountain. It is slightly suited in the High Mountains, and it is completely unsuitable in the Himalayas. The increasing price of R. serpentina was a good indication for commercial cultivation (average annual increment of price = 0.39%). Based on the scores obtained, the more suitable area (core Terai) showed the highest threat. The trade of R. serpentina is very minimal in Nepal due to government restrictions and international laws (IUCN and CITES). Cultivation practices are the major key activities that lead to protecting this species in the natural environment.