Nature reserves, forest parks, geo-parks or scenic areas can be
found almost everywhere in China nowadays. They are the last
sanctuary of the country's wildlife.
Through establishing these protected areas, improving the
management on them and amending relevant laws and regulations,
scientists and conservationists are saving many of the country's
endangered species from extinction.
More than 90 percent of giant pandas, China's national treasure,
are protected in nature reserves in Sichuan,
Shaanxi
and Gansu
provinces.
Latest figures from the State Forestry Administration claim the
number of wild pandas has increased from 1,100 in 1988 to more than
1,590 today, and that does not include those aged under 18
months.
Scientists are also starting to re-introduce pandas born in
captivity to the wild. A special protected area has been given to
the project in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
But the giant panda is not the only species under the shelter of
the country's nature reserves.
In more than 1,500 natural reserves, covering at least 12.3
percent of the country's land territory, or 118 million hectares,
more than 300 species of wild animal are being protected.
There are more than 1,600 forest parks, 85 national geo-parks
and at least 600 scenic and historic interest areas all protecting
endangered wildlife.
More than 250 wild fauna rescue and breeding bases have been set
up, effectively saving yet more species from extinction.
The rare Crested Ibis is one example of success.
Once a familiar sight across east China, Japan, Russia and the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, this bird has hardly been
seen in the wild since the 1970s because of environment
changes.
It was not until 1981 that Chinese scientists happened to spot
seven members of the species, then considered to be the only
examples left in the world, in Shaanxi Province.
They have now managed to raise that number to 203.
The wild fauna rescue and breeding project has also increased
the number of Chinese alligators from about 200 to more than 9,000,
and the population of Hainan Eld's deer from 26 to around 800.
Certain laws have also gone in force to protect and manage
wildlife.
In the Constitution, the State pledges to protect rare animals
and plants and ban any organization from destroying or trading in
them.
The pledge is reiterated in five laws governing forests,
environmental protection, fisheries, grasslands and wild
animals.
Other regulations and various administrative procedures have
also gone in force under the State Council's auspices.
Officials with the State Forestry Administration said work was
going on into amending existing laws that have been in force since
1989.
The adjustments will probably focus on the management of
protected wildlife, the definition of wildlife ownership and the
management of habitats beyond nature reserves.
One idea is to set up a single management system for all the
reserves and co-ordinate the interests of the different departments
which, after all, have the same aim.
At the moment there is a two-grade management system for key
protected wild animals.
So-called "first grade" animals are handled by State
administrative departments, while those at "second grade" level are
protected by provincial, municipal and autonomous regional
governments.
Many natural reserves are under the management of local
authorities, which have to deal with the dilemma between economic
development and protecting natural resources.
(China Daily October 4, 2004)