52
J. Gao
China is also listed by the United Nations as one of the most water-scarce
countries as its per capita quantity of water resources is only 2200 m
3 , merely
a quarter of the world average, ranking 121st in the world. Rapid economic
development and urbanization have exacerbated the water crisis in Chinese
cities. Therefore, the protection of water resources is particularly important.
Public drinking water source areas (PDWSAs) are divided into two categories:
surface water protection areas and groundwater protection areas. It is estimated
that about three quarters of the world’s PDWSAs are surface water protection
areas and only one quarter are groundwater protection areas. A 2016 survey
showed that more than 2400 surface water protection areas were established at
the national level, of which 618 were included in the National List of Important
Public Drinking Water Source Areas (2016).
(6) Marine protected areas (including marine parks). A marine protected area is an
area of sea that has special geographical features, ecosystems, biological and
non-living resources and is managed through effective means for conservation
and marine development and utilization. Marine protected areas are scientifically planned, managed in accordance with relevant standards and utilized in
a sustainable manner primarily for conservation purposes. Marine protected
areas are open for fully science-based and rational development and utilization activities while effectively protecting marine ecosystems and restoring
resources, thereby maintaining a good balance between protection of the marine
environment and resource utilization.
Since China established its first national marine protected area in 2005, marine
protected areas in China have been developing rapidly. At present, a network
of various marine protected areas and marine parks, including those dedicated
to the protection of special geographical conditions, marine ecosystems, and
marine resources, has taken shape. As of 2014, China had 56 national marine
protected areas including 30 marine parks, covering a total area of 69,000 km
2 .
(7) World heritage sites. A world heritage site is a site on the UNESCO World
Heritage List that contains cultural and natural heritage considered to be of
outstanding value to humanity. As a well-known ancient civilization, China
ratified The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage in 1985. As of July 2017, China had 52 sites on the UNESCO
World Heritage List, ranking top in the world along with Italy. Among them,
32 sites are cultural sites, 12 are natural heritage sites, 4 are cultural and natural
heritage sites, and 4 are cultural landscape sites.
China’s World Heritage sites has effectively protected important ecosystems
and natural heritage, including habitats and natural ecosystems of endangered
and rare species such as giant pandas and Yunnan golden monkeys, danxia
landforms, karst landforms, granite landforms, sandstone landforms, paleontological fossils, and other geological heritage, beautiful natural landscapes
such as mountains, lakes, forests, and unique cultural landscapes such as religion, mountains and rivers, ancient architecture, farming practices. They follow
the principles of ecological civilization development (respecting the nature,
J. Gao
China is also listed by the United Nations as one of the most water-scarce
countries as its per capita quantity of water resources is only 2200 m
3 , merely
a quarter of the world average, ranking 121st in the world. Rapid economic
development and urbanization have exacerbated the water crisis in Chinese
cities. Therefore, the protection of water resources is particularly important.
Public drinking water source areas (PDWSAs) are divided into two categories:
surface water protection areas and groundwater protection areas. It is estimated
that about three quarters of the world’s PDWSAs are surface water protection
areas and only one quarter are groundwater protection areas. A 2016 survey
showed that more than 2400 surface water protection areas were established at
the national level, of which 618 were included in the National List of Important
Public Drinking Water Source Areas (2016).
(6) Marine protected areas (including marine parks). A marine protected area is an
area of sea that has special geographical features, ecosystems, biological and
non-living resources and is managed through effective means for conservation
and marine development and utilization. Marine protected areas are scientifically planned, managed in accordance with relevant standards and utilized in
a sustainable manner primarily for conservation purposes. Marine protected
areas are open for fully science-based and rational development and utilization activities while effectively protecting marine ecosystems and restoring
resources, thereby maintaining a good balance between protection of the marine
environment and resource utilization.
Since China established its first national marine protected area in 2005, marine
protected areas in China have been developing rapidly. At present, a network
of various marine protected areas and marine parks, including those dedicated
to the protection of special geographical conditions, marine ecosystems, and
marine resources, has taken shape. As of 2014, China had 56 national marine
protected areas including 30 marine parks, covering a total area of 69,000 km
2 .
(7) World heritage sites. A world heritage site is a site on the UNESCO World
Heritage List that contains cultural and natural heritage considered to be of
outstanding value to humanity. As a well-known ancient civilization, China
ratified The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage in 1985. As of July 2017, China had 52 sites on the UNESCO
World Heritage List, ranking top in the world along with Italy. Among them,
32 sites are cultural sites, 12 are natural heritage sites, 4 are cultural and natural
heritage sites, and 4 are cultural landscape sites.
China’s World Heritage sites has effectively protected important ecosystems
and natural heritage, including habitats and natural ecosystems of endangered
and rare species such as giant pandas and Yunnan golden monkeys, danxia
landforms, karst landforms, granite landforms, sandstone landforms, paleontological fossils, and other geological heritage, beautiful natural landscapes
such as mountains, lakes, forests, and unique cultural landscapes such as religion, mountains and rivers, ancient architecture, farming practices. They follow
the principles of ecological civilization development (respecting the nature,