context: The PRC set up ten pilot national parks in 2016, with five of these officially established in 2021. Despite this progress, the long-awaited 'National Park Law', which should provide crucial guidance for the management of protected areas, still awaits approval.
The PRC is working to establish a number of new national parks, announced Guan Zhi'ou 关志鸥 NAFG (National Forestry and Grasslands) and National Park Administration director, at the 2nd National Parks Forum held in Xining on 19 August.
The new parks will be located at the mouth of the Yellow River in Shandong; in Baishanzu, Zhejiang; and Karamay, Xinjiang.
The PRC established the first batch of national parks in 2021 to protect the country’s distinctive natural ecosystems. This has been a success, according to Guan
- more than 390 mining rights were rescinded and more than 100 small hydro stations regulated or withdrawn in national park areas
- Sanjiangyuan National Park has achieved comprehensive protection of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers
- the Tibetan antelope population has recovered to more than 70,000
- the Giant Panda National Park has protected more than 70 percent of the wild panda population, connecting 13 ecological corridors for local populations
- the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park has established cross-border corridors, and the number of Siberian tigers now exceeds 50
- Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park has recovered the number of gibbons to 37 across six groups
- Wuyi Mountain National Park has discovered 17 new species
Guan also highlighted a number of next steps required for the development of China’s national parks, including
- introducing the 'National Parks Law'
- improving the laws, regulations and institutional systems for national parks and nature reserves
- realising the value of ecological products
- supporting local governments to build national park entrance communities as well as conservation belts
- developing ecotourism and nature education