China began planning construction of national-level nature reserves in 1956, and built its first one in Guangdong--the Guangdong Dinghushan Nature Reserve. That year also saw the Third Session of the First National People's Congress adopt the motion Asking the Government to Determine Areas Where Natural Forests Are Not Allowed to Be Felled (Nature Reserves), and to Protect Natural Plants for the Sake of Scientific Research. In October of the same year, the Ministry of Forestry worked out the Scheme on Determining Nature Reserves and Areas Where Natural Forests Are Not Allowed to Be Felled, which contained objects to be protected in the nature reserves, methods and areas. Some 40 places in 15 provinces and autonomous regions were chosen to be places where natural forests are not allowed to be felled.
In 1960, the State Council promulgated the Instructions on Actively Protecting and Reasonably Exploiting Wild Animals, which announced construction of nature reserves and hunting-free grounds in ares where rare birds and animals inhabited. According to the instructions, 19 kinds of rare animals, including pandas, enjoy special protection and no one is allowed to hunt them.
In 1963, China set up its first ocean nature reserve--the Nature Reserve on the Shedao (Snake) Island.
The year 1978 saw the establishment of the China National Man and Biosphere Commission. Also in the year, the China Agricultural Area Commission set up its Nature Reserves Special Group, and the Ministry of Forestry joined forces with seven ministerial commissions to issue the Circular on Strengthening Management over, Planning of and Scientific Research into Nature Reserves.
In 1985, the State Council approved the Methods for Management over Forest and Wildlife Nature Reserves, which was enacted by the Ministry of Forests. It was China's first law on construction of and management over nature reserves.
China began undertaking, on a trial basis, its nature reserve management project in the fourth quarter of 1995. It is a large project undertaken with international grants in protection of diversified biology.
In 1995, the Ministry of Forests promulgated the China 21st Century Agenda on Forestry Action Plan, which listed construction of nature reserves as a focus of work.
Meanwhile, China strengthened international cooperation and exchange.
In April 1993, the China Biosphere Protection Network was founded. By 1996, there were 61 nature reserves which participated in the network. They include 14 in the Changbai Mountains, Wolong in Sichuan Province, and some other areas, which also participated in the International Man and Biosphere Protection Network.
In 1996, the China Nationale Man and Biosphere Commission won the International Garden Achievement Award from the National Garden and Protection Committee of the World Nature Reserves Protection Alliance. This was the first time China won the award. The Chinese Government also joined the Endangered Wild Animals and Plants International Trade Convention and the UN Convention on Oceans.
By the end of 1998, the number of nature reserves totaled 926, covering a combined area of 76.98 million hectares or 7.64 percent of the land area in the country.
(CIIC)
