50
J. Gao
2. Other types of protected areas
In order to better protect the country’s natural resources, biodiversity and ecological
environment, in addition to nature reserves and national parks, China has also built
a large number of other types of protected areas such as scenic spots, forest parks,
geological parks, and wetland parks.
(1) Scenic areas. Scenic areas are places with nice views or of cultural or scientific significance. They are usually places where natural and cultural attractions and beautiful views concentrate. People visit these places to enjoy nice
views or conduct scientific and cultural activities. They are natural and cultural
heritage sites established by the government according to law, and have functions concerning ecological protection, cultural heritage protection, scientific
research, tourism, leisure and regional development as well as ecological,
aesthetic, scientific, and cultural values. The scenic areas in China have distinct
Chinese characteristics. They have beautiful natural views and rich cultural
heritage. They are like museums of natural history and cultural history. They
are the embodiment of harmonious coexistence between human and nature.
They are the common wealth of the Chinese nation.
In 1982, China formally established its system of scenic areas, with national
and provincial scenic areas. As of the end of 2017, the State Council had
approved 244 national-level scenic areas in nine batches, covering an area of
approximately 100,000 km
2 ; provincial governments had approved more than
700 provincial scenic areas, covering an area of approximately 90,000 km
2 .
The two categories together made a total area of about 190,000 km
2 . A total
of 32 national and eight provincial scenic areas are UNESCO World Heritage
sites.
(2) Forest parks. A forest park refers to a large area of forest that has been made
into a park for people to enjoy. It has rich biological resources and relatively
concentrated natural and cultural attractions. It is an area of forest with multiple
functions that are managed for the primary purpose of conservation. It provides
people with various forms of tourism services and people can carry out scientific and cultural activities in it. Forest parks are divided into three levels:
national, provincial/municipal, and county. In September 1982, China officially
approved its first forest park—Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan. As
of the end of 2017, the total number of national forest parks reached 881,
and the total area reached 12.7862 million hectares (including planned forest
parks), accounting for 1.3% of the country’s total land area.
At present, China has created a forest park construction, management and
development system that covers geological, water, meteorological, cultural,
and other resources. The establishment and development of this system has
not only enabled the effective protection of a large number of precious natural
and cultural heritage sites in forest areas, but also effectively promoted environmental protection and nature conservation on the whole. It has played an
important role in protecting forest scenic resources, promoting the ecological
J. Gao
2. Other types of protected areas
In order to better protect the country’s natural resources, biodiversity and ecological
environment, in addition to nature reserves and national parks, China has also built
a large number of other types of protected areas such as scenic spots, forest parks,
geological parks, and wetland parks.
(1) Scenic areas. Scenic areas are places with nice views or of cultural or scientific significance. They are usually places where natural and cultural attractions and beautiful views concentrate. People visit these places to enjoy nice
views or conduct scientific and cultural activities. They are natural and cultural
heritage sites established by the government according to law, and have functions concerning ecological protection, cultural heritage protection, scientific
research, tourism, leisure and regional development as well as ecological,
aesthetic, scientific, and cultural values. The scenic areas in China have distinct
Chinese characteristics. They have beautiful natural views and rich cultural
heritage. They are like museums of natural history and cultural history. They
are the embodiment of harmonious coexistence between human and nature.
They are the common wealth of the Chinese nation.
In 1982, China formally established its system of scenic areas, with national
and provincial scenic areas. As of the end of 2017, the State Council had
approved 244 national-level scenic areas in nine batches, covering an area of
approximately 100,000 km
2 ; provincial governments had approved more than
700 provincial scenic areas, covering an area of approximately 90,000 km
2 .
The two categories together made a total area of about 190,000 km
2 . A total
of 32 national and eight provincial scenic areas are UNESCO World Heritage
sites.
(2) Forest parks. A forest park refers to a large area of forest that has been made
into a park for people to enjoy. It has rich biological resources and relatively
concentrated natural and cultural attractions. It is an area of forest with multiple
functions that are managed for the primary purpose of conservation. It provides
people with various forms of tourism services and people can carry out scientific and cultural activities in it. Forest parks are divided into three levels:
national, provincial/municipal, and county. In September 1982, China officially
approved its first forest park—Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan. As
of the end of 2017, the total number of national forest parks reached 881,
and the total area reached 12.7862 million hectares (including planned forest
parks), accounting for 1.3% of the country’s total land area.
At present, China has created a forest park construction, management and
development system that covers geological, water, meteorological, cultural,
and other resources. The establishment and development of this system has
not only enabled the effective protection of a large number of precious natural
and cultural heritage sites in forest areas, but also effectively promoted environmental protection and nature conservation on the whole. It has played an
important role in protecting forest scenic resources, promoting the ecological