Borinda mairei

Forests in which the taxon occurs are reported to be extensively disturbed and very degraded by human activities, such as: cultivation, firewood cutting and conversion to shrubland and meadows, even within protected areas. Between 15,000 and 20,000 km² of forest are estimated to remain within the range of this species (Bystriakova et al. 2003).

Bamboos are an ancient group of forest plants which are intrinsically vulnerable to deforestation. The vulnerability of some species is increased by the simultaneous flowering and subsequent death of entire populations in cycles of 20-120 years. Inhabiting moister, more benign habitats in old-growth forests, they are often associated with threatened plants (Bystriakova et al. 2003). The ability of the taxon to regenerate and persist in disturbed and secondary habitats is unknown.

Many Asian bamboo species show very restricted potential ranges possibly due to scarcity of effective dispersal mechanisms, isolation of populations in often dissected, mountainous terrain and relatively recent radiation into new habitats following tectonic and orogenic activity. This suggests that many uncultivated forest bamboos may be particularly susceptible to erosion of their habitat and their genetic diversity, and therefore may need to be considered threatened. Problems of access, ownership, forest management procedures and difficulties in commercialization mean that they are more vulnerable, even though many of them are highly productive and extremely useful (Bystriakova et al. 2003).

The shoots of this species are edible, and the culms are used for weaving (Zhengui et al. 2006). The impact of shoot and culm harvesting on the population are unknown.

It is not known whether this species occurs within any conservation units. Because traditional plant taxonomy has relied heavily upon floral characteristics, while bamboo flowers are only encountered at long intervals, bamboos are among the least studied of all higher plants. Research on biodiversity and conservation of the remaining forest bamboos has so far been very limited due to poor knowledge of bamboo identification and distribution. As a non-timber forest product bamboo is not routinely included in forest inventories. Despite the growing importance of bamboos very few studies of the conservation status of individual species have been undertaken.

Bamboo biodiversity conservation is now seen as a priority in China. Political stability makes interventions feasible and taxonomic studies are progressing. Areas such as the Upper Yangtze watershed are receiving more protection, primarily for downstream flood limitation purposes. Conservation of the forest bamboo species is necessary not only for their own intrinsic value, but also as a genetic backup in support of related cultivated bamboos.

Protection of their natural populations in situ is apparently the only feasible conservation technique at present, for threatened bamboos, as ex situ conservation techniques are currently not practical for bamboos. Bamboo seed is infrequently produced and has poor viability, and plantations are difficult to raise and protect on a large enough scale.

Field surveys are needed to determine the current range and size of the population of this species and whether it occurs within any conservation units.