RECOMMENDATION 1: ESTABLISH A CROSSSECTORAL COORDINATING BODY FOR BIODIVERSITY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL
Objective : To establish a scientific authority for nationwide biodiversity conservation and/or to empower existing conservation institutions with new and clear responsibilities and authority.
Background: China is one of the richest countries in terms of its biodiversity, yet is also one whose biodiversity is under great threat.
China has ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).The Chinese government attaches great importance to the conservation of its biodiversity and has carried out a series of farreaching conservation policies and measures, including a concerted effort to address the objectives of the CBD.
Biodiversity conservation involves all sectors, which means there may be conflicts between different sectors over conservation initiatives.
The existing national Biodiversity Action Plan requires a nationwide coordination institution to ensure its effective implementation.
Factors dealing with tradition and improper division of capacity within institutions have led to the failure of relevant sectors to cooperate with each other over conservation initiatives, a situation which needs to be improved.
In addition to the CBD, many other international conventions relate to the conservation of natural resources and ecosystems, covering endangered animal and plant trade, wetland conservation, migratory species, whaling, desertification, world heritage, migratory species, climate, marine life, etc. Their implementation involves different sectors.
Measures Proposed:
Establish a Coordinating Body for Biodiversity Conservation at the national level that would be in charge of the coordination of biodiversity resources and ecosystem conservation agencies, as well as be the implementation agency for the CBD.This Coordinating Body should have legal, political and financial authority over nationwide biodiversity activities.The Coordinating Body should be responsible for guiding and encouraging biodiversity conservation in China through policymaking and planning.Building on China's Biodiversity Action Plan, the Coordinating body should oversee the preparation of China's Biodiversity Strategy, which would establish the main policy directions for china's implementation of the CBD.
Link the work of the CCICED/BWG to this Coordinating Body
RECOMMENDATION 2: ENABLE BIODIVERSITY TO EARN ECONOMIC RETURNS Objective : The economics of biodiversity well understood by decisionmakers and policies put in place to return profits from biodiversity investments to better manage biodiversity.
Background:
The goods and services provided by biodiversity are worth hundreds of billions of yuan to the Chinese economy each year.One global estimate is that nature's services are worth US$33 trillion per year, of which China's share could be as much as $6 trillion per year.These benefits include direct provision of food, medicine, timber, and other products as well as watershed protection, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and the numerous other processes of life upon which the productivity of the Chinese economy is based.Thus conserving these biodiversity goods and services is of interest to all CCICED working groups.
Despite the role of biodiversity in improving air quality, conserving water, reducing the incidence and impact of floods, providing food, enhancing the longevity of dams (thereby contributing to energy supplies), and increasing agricultural yields, insufficient investments are being made to enable biodiversity to continue providing these benefits.Instead, many sectors of the economy——both public and private——are gaining substantial economic benefits without paying a fair price for them.CCICED studies have demonstrated that even areas managed primarily for biodiversity conservation can be highly profitable, with the proper policy support.Wolong Panda Reserve in Sichuan, for example, would generate revenues of between $1.68 $2.17 million per year if the admission fee were raised from $7 to $25 (an increase tourists would be willing to pay).This compares very favourably with the current operation costs of $250,000 per year, but far greater earnings are possible with greater investments in improving the management of the reserve.
Substantial investments are required to enable biodiversity to be well managed for the benefit of China's economy.Experience elsewhere has demonstrated that these investments will earn very high rates of return, in both the short term and the long term.However, many of these benefits are in the form of "public goods"——distributed freely to all citizens——rather than "private goods" that provide immediate financial returns.
Measures Proposed:
Establish a research programme to better understand the economics of biodiversity, including its economic benefits and how various economic instruments can be used to both capture the benefits of biodiversity and return profits to improving biodiversity management.As an example, some crops may be extremely wasteful of water and/or land in providing a certain amount of human nutrition.Since these crops are effectively being subsidised by natural ecosystems they should be subjected to an 'ecological taxation', to return profits to the source.
On the basis of the research, develop policies that will enable significantly increased funds to be returned to biodiversity management.For example, a "Panda Stamp" on tourist visas could earn many tens of millions of dollars per year, if the funds were used for biodiversity management; and many protected areas could at least cover their operating costs if they were enabled to retain the admission fees paid to them and if they were compensated for the watershed protection values they provide.Policies should also need to be developed to charge private users for the biodiversity benefits they are provided by nature (for example, water fees, green taxes, royalties, resource user fees).
Establish, on the basis of the research programme, a special fund in the State budget to invest in biodiversity activities.This Biodiversity Fund is required to make the necessary investments in infrastructure, research, and administration that will provide returns to the general public over the longer term.
Establish a revolving Forest Ecosystem Management Fund that will manage forest royalties for reinvestment in improved forest management.
RECOMMENDATION 3: REVISED LAWS AND IMPROVED ENFORCEMENT IN THE AREA OF BIODIVERSITY SHOULD BE PROMOTED
Objective : An adequate legal and logistic basis established for biodiversity conservation, environmental security, control of illegal trade, and gene bank development.
Background:
The legal basis and the enforcement of laws and actions must go hand in hand.
Although China has many laws relating to biodiversity and its conservation and sustainable use, such as the Environmental Protection Law, Wildlife Protection Law, Agriculture Law, etc, these still do not meet the overall needs according to the obligations under the CBD.
The Wildlife Protection Law needs to be revised and updated.Currently it mainly deals with state endangered wildlife and wildlife with high economic value, It must be supplemented with measures to meet the need to conserve and sustainably use all biodiversity in China.
The potential risks resulting from the utilisation of new biotechniques on existing biodiversity and human health must be addressed and controlled legally.The threat imposed by alien species must be stopped, and such invasive species should be controlled and managed, both legally and practically.
Measures Proposed:
Develop comprehensive Biodiversity Law that includes the obligations under the CBD and other relevant conventions to support longterm conservation of biodiversity and its sustainable development in China.As the first step, relevant authorities and institutions should, assess the need for feasibility of the development of such a new consolidated Biodiversity Law.Taking into consideration different levels of necessity and feasibility, separate Endangered Species and Biodiversity Security Acts should also be considered.
RECOMMENDATION 4: UNDERTAKE A NEW BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY OF CHINA
Objective :
Strengthen research on taxonomy and biodiversity information systems. Establish baseline biodiversity data for future monitoring programmes and revitalise and coordinate links between biodiversity museums and collections
Background:
Most protected areas, remaining forest blocks, new plantations, marine areas and rural habitats lack any form of biodiversity inventory. Sites for which data do exist have in most cases been greatly transformed since the original inventories were undertaken. Much existing data are out of date or taxonomically imprecise.
Taxonomy is one of the keystones in the study of biology.China, being a megadiversity country, still has many species unnamed and geographic areas to be further explored.However, the field of taxonomy is now very weak.Experienced biologists, taxonomists, and field biologists are in very short supply.
Current trends in the development of biology have tended to ignore field biology and taxonomy, even though these are key factors in biology; desk work is replacing field study.
Conservation and sustainable development of biological resources, environmental change, study of invasive species, environmental restoration, and biodiversity evaluation and monitoring all require increased levels of field study.
At present, museum specimens are not being collected or maintained properly.Museum specialists are few.Many type specimens have been scattered at different institutions.Without concerted effort to preserve these specimens, they might be lost.
Existing information on taxonomy, distribution, and habitat has not been fully utilised.A national information system could help identify areas needing increased protective measures. Much data are already very out of date.
Species and ecosystems rely on each other.Key species, functional groups and guilds play important roles in ecosystems.Examples are documented keystone species on the Tibetan plateau and their overall influence on that ecosystem.Recognition of keystone species, functional groups and guilds is very important for the protection and restoration of all species.
Unlike western universities, Chinese science universities do not have special taxonomy and field biology curricula.The shortage of taxonomy specialists is a big problem facing Chinese biodiversity studies, and this need should be attracting the attention of the public.
Measures Proposed:
Undertake new national biodiversity inventory across all provinces. This will necessitate the preparation of new identification guides and keys, training of field collectors and taxonomists at provincial level and a revitalisation of museum activity and standards. The programme should be coordinated by CAS and may necessitate the establishment of a specialised Biodiversity Institute. Data collection will involve use of habitat base maps prepared from satellite images and use of GPS equipment to ensure high geographical accuracy. Data will be channeled into a national Biodiversity Database using latest GIS technology.
A State Natural History Museum should be established, operated by museum science specialists and housing specimens and associated equipment.The collection of specimens will show the evolutionary process at the regional level, which is the foundation for protection and restoration.The State Natural History Museum will convey the process of evolution and natural resource management to the general public.Special care should be taken to preserve type specimens, and protection and management of collections should be strengthened. The many scattered collections are useful for local scientific work and reference, but should be electronically catalogued into the State Natural History Museum. Important collections meeting national standards of specimen care and preservation should be registered as part of the national collection and receive grants to help with their maintenance.
Address taxonomic problems of key difficult species groups by production of clear, uptodate identification guides and keys.
Offer incentives to encourage taxonomic study.Field data collection and specialist training should be strengthened.Information systems should be established according to the dimensions, complexity and practice needed.Information exchange should be strengthened using the Internet to form a nationwide information system, which could be a way to promote public education.
Conduct research on relationships among key species, functional groups and guilds, as this will provide a scientific basis for the management and restoration of biodiversity and natural ecosystems.
RECOMMENDATION 5: INCREASE PUBLIC EDUCATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
Objective : T
hrough public education on biodiversity, enhance the awareness of the general public to improve biodiversity conservation
Background:
Party leaders, government officials, and enterprise managers lack the awareness of biodiversity conservation and relevant biological knowledge.
There are still people who prefer to eat wildlife indiscriminately, take traditional Chinese medicines containing products of threatened species, and treat animals inhumanely.
Although considerable effort has been invested in biodiversity conservation education, there is still a large gap between the current state of conservation education and what is needed.In particular, biodiversity conservation education training materials are inadequate.
NGOs, through their conservation education programmes, have the capacity to mobilise youth and the general public to assist the government in biodiversity conservation.
Measures Proposed:
Incorporate biodiversity conservation into formal education.Add relevant knowledge in textbooks of primary and secondary schools.Set educational goals by all levels of government agencies and provide financial assistance to ensure these goals are realised.
Publicise the importance of biodiversity conservation through radio, TV and newspapers.
Encourage national and international NGOs to carry out conservation education activities in China.
A biodiversity conservation component should be added in the training materials for workshops of all levels of government officials and leaders.
Fully utilise public institutions, such as natural history museums, zoos, botanic gardens, national parks, reserves, etc., to convey the message of biodiversity conservation.
Encourage the establishment of pronature associations among students and the general public.Organise field activities to generate the people's love for nature.
RECOMMENDATION 6: MANAGE BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT USE, TRADE AND CONSUMPTION IS SUSTAINABLE
Objective : To stop unsustainable use of biodiversity
Background:
Analysis has shown that nearly 70% of Chinese mammals are of threatened status.The primary reasons are hunting and habitat destruction.Overhunting is the primary threat.
Traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine have a substantial negative effect on biodiversity.Beliefs in food compensation and beautiful cuisine both harm local biodiversity, and support illegal trade that threatens biodiversity in other areas of China and in nearby countries.Statistics show that in 1995 94.1% of the restaurants in Guangxi Province provided wildlife as food, of which a great percentage was threatened species illegally caught and traded.
In recent years, with the development of a consumption economy, demands for wildlife products have increased greatly.This has inflated the price for wildlife products and increased levels of their use.People rush into the wildlife trade, many without licenses.Illegal trade has concomitantly increased, greatly threatening the survival of many endangered species and greatly decreasing populations of nonlisted species.
Of the 426 medicinal plants in the Chinese Encyclopaedia of Medicine published in 1995, 28 are listed in the Chinese Red List of Endangered Plants (accounting for 6.57%).Therefore, there is a connection between endangered plants and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).And, as with other species found in trade, indiscriminate use of species for TCM may jeopardise populations of nonlisted species.
Measures Proposed:
Establish comprehensive management system that strictly prevents the use of illegal destructive hunting measures, such as illegal weapons, poison, explosives, etc., and all trade in key endangered species.Set proper hunting quotas for common species to ensure sustainable harvest and trade.
Strengthen customs regulations, and train customs staff in intervention of illegal wildlife trade.Restrict the number of ports to increase efficiency of customs measures directed at illegally transported wildlife.
Develop captive breeding of a substantial number of TCM species and other economic wildlife to reduce the negative effects on biodiversity in the wild.Strictly manage the trade of captive bred specimens.
RECOMMENDATION 7: EXTEND BIODIVERSITY STRATEGIES AND ACTION PLANS TO THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL
Objective : Implement the Convention on Biological Diversity at the provincial level
Background:
As part of national implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity, China has prepared a Biodiversity Country Study and a National Biodiversity Action Plan.However, many of the key actions need to take place at the provincial level, reflecting regional differences in biodiversity and decentralised responsibilities for resource management.
The CBD provides a comprehensive approach to biodiversity which needs to be reflected in the National Biodiversity Act, and in provincial legislation.Such legislation should incorporate new policy measures for implementing the CBD, including biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of biological resources, and the equitable distribution of benefits arising from such use.
China's protected area system is extensive and growing quickly, but a more comprehensive approach is needed to ensure that all key habitats are covered, that the protected areas fit within a larger bioregional landuse plan, and that major management issues are clearly identified.This will often require a provinciallevel approach.
Measures Proposed:
Initiate a programme to prepare biodiversity strategies and action plans at the provincial level.Such plans should be based on broad consultation with all interested economic sectors, including private enterprises.While each province will be free to address the biodiversity issues they consider of highest priority, SEPA should provide common guidelines to guide the effort.The provincial strategies and action plans should reach the county and township levels, and set out the major policy directions and key actions for the province.Each strategy/action plan should include a protected area system plan, linkages to key economic sectors, a funding strategy that draws on a wide range of funding mechanisms and financial instruments, and any necessary changes in legislation.
Prepare a National Biodiversity Strategy that establishes explicit national policies for implementing the CBD, providing the necessary guidance for extending action to the provincial level.This strategy should be converted into legislation through a National Biodiversity Act.
Invite the Biodiversity Working Group of CCICED to play the role of advisor to the provincial biodiversity planning process, providing technical and policy advice on request.
