Research progress on plant diversity in North Asia

This paper reviews major progress in plant diversity research in North Asia over the past three centuries, with a focus on floristic composition, phytogeography, digitization of herbarium specimens, and the conservation of rare and endangered species. It also highlights key challenges, including fragmented data, regional disparities in research development, excessive species delimitation, limited application of IUCN Red List assessment criteria, and the slow pace of specimen digitization (currently only about 10% were completed). To address these challenges, it is suggested to strengthen support for regions with limited research capacity, promote the comprehensive adoption of IUCN assessment frameworks, accelerate specimen digitization, enhance regional coordination, and improve data sharing. With the advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, research on plant diversity in North Asia and international cooperation is expected to be further deepened, providing robust support for global biodiversity conservation.