Southeast Asia's oaks face high human

A new report warns that many of Southeast Asia's native oak species are under high stress from human activity and lack adequate protection. The analysis was produced by the Morton Arboretum.

Kate Good, a research manager at the Morton Arboretum and study author, told Mongabay that while the region may not be the first that comes to mind for oaks, it is crucial for their biodiversity and conservation. "Many of these species are under dire threat," Good added.

Major threats and pressure levels

The report evaluated 54 oak species across Southeast and East Asia that are listed as threatened or data-deficient by the IUCN. It found that 46 of these species experienced "very high" or "high" human pressure across more than half of their native ranges in 2024. Agricultural expansion, specifically for rubber, oil palm, and wood and pulp plantations, was identified as the major threat to two-thirds of the analyzed species.

Geographic hotspots and protection gaps

Vietnam is the center of Southeast Asian oak biodiversity, hosting 33 threatened or data deficient species. Fifteen of these are found nowhere else. Three of the region's four designated oak biodiversity hotspots lie within the Annamite mountain range spanning Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The fourth is in Doi Inthanon National Park in Thailand.

Lam Van Hoang, country director for Vietnam at Fauna & Flora International, said the findings show how vulnerable many of these species are. He told Mongabay the report reinforces the need to combine effective protection of remaining forests with targeted surveys, restoration, and propagation.

The analysis revealed significant gaps in protection. All 54 species surveyed had 40% or less of their native range within protected areas. Ten species had less than 10% coverage.

Ex situ conservation status

The report also examined conservation in botanic gardens and other ex situ collections, which can act as an insurance policy against extinction. It found only 14 of the 54 surveyed species are preserved in such collections. Among the region's 16 critically endangered oaks, only a single species - Quercus camusiae, housed in a botanic garden in China - is held in an ex situ collection.

Huang supported increasing ex situ populations but said collections should be strategic. He emphasized prioritizing the most threatened species and ensuring sufficient genetic diversity with well-documented wild provenance.

Of the world's 430 known oak species, 172 are native to Southeast and East Asia.