Reassessment and conservation strategies for Magnolia tiepii V.T.Tran & N.V.Duy in Vietnam

Magnolia tiepii , a Critically Endangered species endemic to Khanh Le pass, Khanh Hoa Province (Vietnam), was reassessed for its conservation status, population structure, phenology, and recorded threats to propose appropriate conservation strategies. A total of 29 individuals were recorded, most of which exhibited signs of habitat disturbance and poor health. Nearly 50% of them had a Diameter at breast height under 2 cm, and approximately 1/3 were between 1 m and 3 m in height. Over 50% showed physical damage, and the proportion of individuals with poor health was the highest among all the quality categories. The flowering and fruiting periods occurred from October to May of the following year. The population is under severe pressure from anthropogenic activities (deforestation and expansion of industrial plantations), natural biotic factors (insect pests, frugivorous animals, and parasitic organisms), and climate change. With an extremely limited Extent of Occurrence (0.068 km 2 ) and fewer than 250 mature individuals, M. tiepii meets the IUCN Red List criteria for Critically Endangered C 2a(i) and B 1a + c(i) . This study proposes a combination of In-situ and Ex-situ conservation strategies, along with supportive measures in policy development, further research, and community awareness-raising efforts.