Development and Effects of Nature Conservation in China …
53
following the law of nature, and protecting nature; coordinating between development and environmental protection; lucid waters and lush mountains are
invaluable assets; mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes and grasslands
are interconnected ecosystems, etc.) and have played a special role in promoting
the development of ecological civilization.
2 Ecological Red Lines to Effectively Maintain Ecological
Integrity of China
Entering the twenty-first century, China saw its ecological protection work develop
rapidly, and the top-down implementation of the relevant top-level design is
progressing in an orderly manner. In July 2008, the Ministry of Environmental
Protection and the Chinese Academy of Sciences issued the National Ecological
Function Zoning Plan, which set aside 50 important national ecological function
zones covering 2.37 million km
2 , accounting for 24.8% of the country’s total land
area. In order to strengthen the protection of ecologically fragile areas, control ecological degradation, restore ecosystem functions, and improve the quality of the ecological environment, in September 2008, the Chinese government released the General
Plan for the Protection of the National Ecologically Fragile Areas, which clarified
the geographical distribution, current status and characteristics of the country’s eight
ecologically fragile areas and the guiding ideology, principles and tasks of ecological
protection. The document provides scientific guidelines for restoring and rebuilding a
sound ecological environment in ecologically fragile areas. In June 2011, the National
Plan for Major Function Zones was released, dividing the country into the following
major function zones: (i) According to development approach, there are areas for
optimized development, key development areas, areas for development with restrictions, and areas where development is prohibited. (ii) According to development
purposes, there are urban areas, main agricultural production areas and key ecological function areas. The National Plan for Major Function Zones systematically and
comprehensively outlines the strategic pattern for maintaining ecological security of
China. At the core of the pattern are the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Ecological Barrier,
the Loess Plateau-Sichuan-Yunnan Ecological Barrier, the Northeast Forest Belt, the
Northern Desertification Prevention Belt, and the Southern Hilly Area Ecological
Belt. The pattern is formed in accordance with the principle of respecting nature and
following the law of nature.
In 2011, delineation of ecological red lines became an important strategic task of
the Chinese government [Opinions of the State Council on Carrying out Key Environmental Protection Tasks (GF [2011] No. 35)]. The Chinese government delineated important and key ecological function zones as well as terrestrial and marine
ecologically sensitive and vulnerable areas for permanent protection, which reflected
China’s determination to strengthen ecological protection by compulsory measures
at the national level.
53
following the law of nature, and protecting nature; coordinating between development and environmental protection; lucid waters and lush mountains are
invaluable assets; mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes and grasslands
are interconnected ecosystems, etc.) and have played a special role in promoting
the development of ecological civilization.
2 Ecological Red Lines to Effectively Maintain Ecological
Integrity of China
Entering the twenty-first century, China saw its ecological protection work develop
rapidly, and the top-down implementation of the relevant top-level design is
progressing in an orderly manner. In July 2008, the Ministry of Environmental
Protection and the Chinese Academy of Sciences issued the National Ecological
Function Zoning Plan, which set aside 50 important national ecological function
zones covering 2.37 million km
2 , accounting for 24.8% of the country’s total land
area. In order to strengthen the protection of ecologically fragile areas, control ecological degradation, restore ecosystem functions, and improve the quality of the ecological environment, in September 2008, the Chinese government released the General
Plan for the Protection of the National Ecologically Fragile Areas, which clarified
the geographical distribution, current status and characteristics of the country’s eight
ecologically fragile areas and the guiding ideology, principles and tasks of ecological
protection. The document provides scientific guidelines for restoring and rebuilding a
sound ecological environment in ecologically fragile areas. In June 2011, the National
Plan for Major Function Zones was released, dividing the country into the following
major function zones: (i) According to development approach, there are areas for
optimized development, key development areas, areas for development with restrictions, and areas where development is prohibited. (ii) According to development
purposes, there are urban areas, main agricultural production areas and key ecological function areas. The National Plan for Major Function Zones systematically and
comprehensively outlines the strategic pattern for maintaining ecological security of
China. At the core of the pattern are the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Ecological Barrier,
the Loess Plateau-Sichuan-Yunnan Ecological Barrier, the Northeast Forest Belt, the
Northern Desertification Prevention Belt, and the Southern Hilly Area Ecological
Belt. The pattern is formed in accordance with the principle of respecting nature and
following the law of nature.
In 2011, delineation of ecological red lines became an important strategic task of
the Chinese government [Opinions of the State Council on Carrying out Key Environmental Protection Tasks (GF [2011] No. 35)]. The Chinese government delineated important and key ecological function zones as well as terrestrial and marine
ecologically sensitive and vulnerable areas for permanent protection, which reflected
China’s determination to strengthen ecological protection by compulsory measures
at the national level.