An expert takes a photo of the Handeliodendron bodinieri, which is under national top-level protection. [Photo by Luo Kaiwen/gxnews.com.cn]

Three of the nation's rarest species were recently spotted for the first time at Laxi National Wetland Park in Nandan county of Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

This is the second big discovery since the sighting of 30 endangered Chinese mergansers in Tian'e county last year all but confirmed the success of Hechi's conservation efforts.

The discovery was made when a group of wildlife experts from the Guangxi Forest Inventory & Planning Institute carried out a week-long dynamic monitoring exercise in an attempt to understand the changes that have occurred in the ecosystem and provide a scientific basis for the protection, management and ecological restoration of wetland parks.

Handeliodendron bodinieri, which is under national-level protection, and two second-level protected birds - the crested honey buzzard and Bonelli's Hawk Eagle – were all sighted.

A close-up of the Handeliodendron bodinieri discovered at Laxi National Wetland Park in Nandan county, Hechi [Photo by Luo Kaiwen/gxnews.com.cn]

Four Handeliodendron bodinieri trees were discovered in Laxi Wetland Park. The largest is seven centimeters in diameter at breast height and 4.5 meters in height.

The deciduous tree is native to China and is mainly found in southern Guizhou and northwestern Guangxi. The tree is vital to the ecosystem and grows in forests 500 meters to 800 meters above sea level.

Its strong wood can be used for high-grade furniture and construction materials. Its seeds are rich in oil, making them suitable for both edible or industrial use.

Located in the northwestern corner of Guangxi, Laxi National Wetland Park is 45 kilometers away from downtown Nandan and covers a total area of 561.48 hectares.

The park is a high-altitude wetland park, which is relatively rare in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. There is currently a total of 153 species of higher plants, 14 species of fish, five species of amphibians, 11 species of reptiles, 92 species of birds and 11 species of mammals that have been discovered in the park.

A crested honey buzzard soars across the sky at Laxi National Wetland Park. [Photo by Luo Kaiwen/gxnews.com.cn]