54
J. Gao
On February 7, 2017, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued Several Opinions on Delineating and Strictly Observing Ecological Red Lines, which clarified
the overall requirements and specific arrangements for the delineation of ecological
red lines. Since then, the topics of ecological red line research has expanded from
zoning to basic theories, delineation methods, and management measures. Literature
on ecological red lines have become more comprehensive, multidimensional and
practical. The delineation of ecological red lines is a project led by the state.
Compared with the existing protected areas across the world, the ecological red
line system of China consists of three types of red lines: red lines for ecosystem
services areas, red lines for disaster mitigation and control areas, and red lines for
biodiversity maintenance areas. The system integrates various existing protected
areas, and adds areas that are extremely important to ecosystem services and areas
with extremely sensitive and fragile ecological environment. The ecological protection zoning system has become more comprehensive and formed a more scientific distribution pattern with more prominent regional functions and more stringent control measures. It is fair to say that the system is a major improvement to
the existing international protected area system. The ecological red line system has
strengthened environmental protection and ecosystem services, and played an important role in maintaining ecological security and promoting sustainable development
of the country. It not only effectively protects biodiversity and important natural
landscapes, but also plays an important role in purifying the air and building the
capacity of the water environment. Therefore, ecological red lines are considered
another lifeline of the country following the red line for cultivated land in China.
At the same time, ecological red lines are also land development control lines,
which is of great significance to the improvement of the country’s overall land
development pattern.
3 A National Park System to Maintain the Harmonious
Coexistence Between Mankind and Nature
It is stated in the Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reform adopted at the
Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC in November 2013
that the country should build a national park system. Building a nature reserve system
with national parks at its core is very important to ecological and environmental
protection in China.
The two major functions of national parks are protection of the ecological environment and natural resources and moderate development of tourist resources. National
parks provide effective protection on a large scale and ensure that the development
and utilization of resources is appropriate and not in conflict with the protection goals.
They not only protect the integrity of ecosystems but also provide the public with
J. Gao
On February 7, 2017, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued Several Opinions on Delineating and Strictly Observing Ecological Red Lines, which clarified
the overall requirements and specific arrangements for the delineation of ecological
red lines. Since then, the topics of ecological red line research has expanded from
zoning to basic theories, delineation methods, and management measures. Literature
on ecological red lines have become more comprehensive, multidimensional and
practical. The delineation of ecological red lines is a project led by the state.
Compared with the existing protected areas across the world, the ecological red
line system of China consists of three types of red lines: red lines for ecosystem
services areas, red lines for disaster mitigation and control areas, and red lines for
biodiversity maintenance areas. The system integrates various existing protected
areas, and adds areas that are extremely important to ecosystem services and areas
with extremely sensitive and fragile ecological environment. The ecological protection zoning system has become more comprehensive and formed a more scientific distribution pattern with more prominent regional functions and more stringent control measures. It is fair to say that the system is a major improvement to
the existing international protected area system. The ecological red line system has
strengthened environmental protection and ecosystem services, and played an important role in maintaining ecological security and promoting sustainable development
of the country. It not only effectively protects biodiversity and important natural
landscapes, but also plays an important role in purifying the air and building the
capacity of the water environment. Therefore, ecological red lines are considered
another lifeline of the country following the red line for cultivated land in China.
At the same time, ecological red lines are also land development control lines,
which is of great significance to the improvement of the country’s overall land
development pattern.
3 A National Park System to Maintain the Harmonious
Coexistence Between Mankind and Nature
It is stated in the Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reform adopted at the
Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC in November 2013
that the country should build a national park system. Building a nature reserve system
with national parks at its core is very important to ecological and environmental
protection in China.
The two major functions of national parks are protection of the ecological environment and natural resources and moderate development of tourist resources. National
parks provide effective protection on a large scale and ensure that the development
and utilization of resources is appropriate and not in conflict with the protection goals.
They not only protect the integrity of ecosystems but also provide the public with