Development and Effects of Nature Conservation in China …
49
As of the end of 2016, there were 2750 nature reserves in China (excluding
Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, the same below), and the total area of them registered 147.33 million hectares. The land area of nature reserves was approximately
142.88 million hectares. Nature reserves on land account for 14.88% of China’s land
area.
Nature reserves are mainly set aside for the protection of natural ecosystems,
wildlife and natural heritage. The country has built nature reserves for over 90% of
terrestrial natural ecosystems, 89% of national-level key protected wild animal and
plant species and most important natural heritage sites. Wild populations of some
rare and endangered species in the country are gradually recovering. Giant pandas in
the wild totaled more than 1800, making its way from the list of endangered species
into the list of vulnerable species; the populations of species such as Amur tiger,
Amur leopard, Asian elephant, and crested ibis have increased significantly; elk, once
extinct in the wild, was reintroduced through the establishment of nature reserves
for elk and its population grew steadily, regarded by the international community as
an example of successful biodiversity conservation.
Natural reserves are divided into two levels: national and sub-national. There
are 446 national nature reserves, accounting for only 16.2% of the total, covering
96.95 million hectares, 65.8% of the country’s total protected areas and 9.97% of
the country’s land area. The total number of sub-national nature reserves reached
2304, covering an area of 50.39 million hectares. Among them, 870, or 31.6%, are
provincial nature reserves, covering an area of 37.56 million hectares, 25.5% of the
total area of nature reserves in the country; 414 are municipal ones, 15.1% of the
total, covering an area of 4.96 million hectares, or 3.4% of the total area of nature
reserves; and 1020, or 37.1% of the total, are county-level nature reserves, covering
7.86 million hectares, or 5.3% of the total.
Since the establishment of the first nature reserve in 1956, China has basically
formed a nature reserve system with a basically reasonable layout and a full range
of functions as well as a relatively complete system of policies, regulations and standards for nature reserves. It also has a relatively complete nature reserve management system and a research support system. These systems have played a big role
in promoting resource protection, research and survey, as well as publicity and
education.
In recent years, more and more nature reserves have begun to engage in international exchanges and join relevant international protection networks. As of the end
of 2016, 33 nature reserves in China, including Xilingol Reserve in Inner Mongolia
and Laotie Mountain National Nature Reserve on Snake Island in Liaoning Province,
had been included in the International Man and Biosphere Reserve Network of
UNESCO; 46 nature reserves, including Shuangtai River Nature Reserve in Liaoning
and Xianghai Nature Reserve in Jilin, had been included in the Ramsar Convention’s
list of internationally important wetlands; 37 nature reserves, including Wuyishan
Nature Reserve in Fujian and Zhangjiajie Nature Reserve in Hunan, have been officially recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites; and 40 nature reserves, including
Wudalianchi Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang and Lushan Nature Reserve in Jiangxi,
had been included in the Global Geoparks Network.
49
As of the end of 2016, there were 2750 nature reserves in China (excluding
Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, the same below), and the total area of them registered 147.33 million hectares. The land area of nature reserves was approximately
142.88 million hectares. Nature reserves on land account for 14.88% of China’s land
area.
Nature reserves are mainly set aside for the protection of natural ecosystems,
wildlife and natural heritage. The country has built nature reserves for over 90% of
terrestrial natural ecosystems, 89% of national-level key protected wild animal and
plant species and most important natural heritage sites. Wild populations of some
rare and endangered species in the country are gradually recovering. Giant pandas in
the wild totaled more than 1800, making its way from the list of endangered species
into the list of vulnerable species; the populations of species such as Amur tiger,
Amur leopard, Asian elephant, and crested ibis have increased significantly; elk, once
extinct in the wild, was reintroduced through the establishment of nature reserves
for elk and its population grew steadily, regarded by the international community as
an example of successful biodiversity conservation.
Natural reserves are divided into two levels: national and sub-national. There
are 446 national nature reserves, accounting for only 16.2% of the total, covering
96.95 million hectares, 65.8% of the country’s total protected areas and 9.97% of
the country’s land area. The total number of sub-national nature reserves reached
2304, covering an area of 50.39 million hectares. Among them, 870, or 31.6%, are
provincial nature reserves, covering an area of 37.56 million hectares, 25.5% of the
total area of nature reserves in the country; 414 are municipal ones, 15.1% of the
total, covering an area of 4.96 million hectares, or 3.4% of the total area of nature
reserves; and 1020, or 37.1% of the total, are county-level nature reserves, covering
7.86 million hectares, or 5.3% of the total.
Since the establishment of the first nature reserve in 1956, China has basically
formed a nature reserve system with a basically reasonable layout and a full range
of functions as well as a relatively complete system of policies, regulations and standards for nature reserves. It also has a relatively complete nature reserve management system and a research support system. These systems have played a big role
in promoting resource protection, research and survey, as well as publicity and
education.
In recent years, more and more nature reserves have begun to engage in international exchanges and join relevant international protection networks. As of the end
of 2016, 33 nature reserves in China, including Xilingol Reserve in Inner Mongolia
and Laotie Mountain National Nature Reserve on Snake Island in Liaoning Province,
had been included in the International Man and Biosphere Reserve Network of
UNESCO; 46 nature reserves, including Shuangtai River Nature Reserve in Liaoning
and Xianghai Nature Reserve in Jilin, had been included in the Ramsar Convention’s
list of internationally important wetlands; 37 nature reserves, including Wuyishan
Nature Reserve in Fujian and Zhangjiajie Nature Reserve in Hunan, have been officially recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites; and 40 nature reserves, including
Wudalianchi Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang and Lushan Nature Reserve in Jiangxi,
had been included in the Global Geoparks Network.