Final Report - Asian Development Bank

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TA 4721-PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
Final Report Appendix 5
5. Data Gaps and Unresolved Issues
a. Detailed Summary of Qinling Biodiversity
88. The Qinling mountain ecosystem has been recognized for decades by many authorities and
government at all levels as an extraordinary natural resource. Volumes have been written about the
importance of the ecosystem and hundreds of scientific and popular manuscripts have been
published, mainly in the Chinese, on various discrete issues. Only for Giant Panda have long-term
research programs been undertaken and summary results published in formats relevant to
conservation management. For other species and groups of species the research efforts and
literature are fragmented, probably due to the scarcity of funding for applied long-term field research.
Thus there is often detailed knowledge of the biology or ecology of a given species (e.g. the group
sizes of Sichuan Golden Monkeys or Golden Takin and their seasonal distributions), but there is
seldom adequate synthesis. This also results in part from the lack of funding for synthesis of past
efforts and lessons learned. Two examples of the need for consolidation and interpretation of
scientific information are: (i) summary of the three Giant Panda censuses and interpretation with
respect to conservation of all recorded fauna besides Giant Panda; and (ii) summary of the semiannual
transect surveys carried out by WWF and SFD in terms of implications for species
management and recovery, and overall conservation biology of the Qinling. A third pressing need is
for a consolidation of all Qinling research projects and publications related to biota and presentation of
the results by species, community, vegetation type and other relevant categories. These efforts
should look critically at past research projects to learn lessons that can guide future research.
b. Crested Ibis
89. Detailed studies have been completed mainly for the Giant Panda, Golden Takin, Sichuan
Golden Monkey, and Crested Ibis. Of these four species, the one most urgently in need of
conservation action is Crested Ibis. While the wild population on the south slope of the Qinling is
increasing in size, it is the only wild population known in China. The two reasons listed by the Species
Survival Commission of IUCN for reintroduction of captive animals to the wild are to augment the wild
population and to increase genetic diversity of the wild population. The first of these reasons is
applicable throughout virtually all of the former range of Crested Ibis where the species is extinct. The
second reason might be applicable as well, although at least one researcher has reported
abnormalities in the Yang County population that suggest inbreeding depression. The captive
populations are self sustaining and reintroduction is under consideration in China and Japan.
Reintroduction planning should focus on the captive population at Zhouzhi County to re-establish wild
populations on the north slope of the Qinling and at select wetland nature reserves throughout the
species former range.
c. Non-charismatic and Globally Threatened Species
90. Table 11 lists 37 species from the Qinling that are globally threatened, nine of which have
been recorded on the Project Area. Of the nine, Chinese Giant Salamander is Critically Endangered.
It has not been adequately addressed by research or by species management or recovery plans.
Chinese Giant Salamander is farmed in the Qinling for food markets but its conservation in the wild
remains ineffective due to habitat destruction (clear, clean mountain rivers) and hunting pressure.
91. Two endangered species have been reported on the Project Area, Asiatic Wild Dog and
Chinese Shrew Mole. Neither has been researched in the Qinling and no conservation management
or species recovery plans address these species.
92. Six globally vulnerable species have been recorded on the Project Area, two of which are
members of the “big four” and have been adequately researched and addressed by conservation
plans. The remaining four species (Chinese Softshell, Serow, Malaysian Porcupine, and Asiatic Black
Bear) have not been adequately researched in the wild. Wild populations of Chinese Softshell and
Asiatic Black Bear are under severe pressure from hunting/collecting for food markets. Chinese
Softshell is farmed and wild terrapins are captured to supplement farm populations.
93. In addition to the nine globally threatened species on the Project Area, 26 of the remaining
28 globally threatened species in the Qinling are not among the “big four” and have not been
adequately researched or addressed by conservation or recovery plans.