Biodiversity affected by ongoing drought in Yunnan  

连旱重创“动植物王国” 云南生物多样性遭威胁

旱魔连续四年侵袭云岭大地，不仅威胁着人类的生产生活，生长在这片土地上的动植物也深受其害。记者13日从云南省林业厅获悉，自2011年秋冬，受干旱影响的野生植物近760万株，野生动物接近两万头。

Kunming (CNS) -- The continuing drought in Yunnan province has affected over 7.6 million plants and 20,000 animals. The region's local biodiversity is also being affected, according to the Forestry Department of Yunnan on Wednesday.

Yunnan is home to over 50% of China's total species, and is known as the Kingdom of Plants and Animals.

However, the drought that started in the second half of 2011 has taken a toll on the biodiversity of Yunnan province.

A total of 157,223 national key protected wild plants, and 232 wild animals of national priority protection are affected by the drought.

The drought has not only increased the risk of species extinction in Yunnan, but also led to a change in the ecological environment of the region, said Zi Shize, deputy director of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Office of the Forestry Department of Yunnan.

The drought may also accelerate soil erosion, and cause desertification in the area, Zi added.