Final Report - Asian Development Bank

TA 4721-PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
Final Report Appendix 5
network for ecosystem study has been operational for many years studying the structure, function, and
evolution of ecosystems.
117. PRC conducts inventories of forest resource status and trend at the national level every five
years. Provinces and municipalities can also arrange investigations to provide scientific information
for compilation of forestry programs and management of forest resources at local levels. The fifth
national investigation on forest resources has been completed.
118. PRC started a national investigation of terrestrial wild fauna in 1995 and a national
investigation of key protected wild flora in 1996 to provide a scientific basis for the protection of rare
and endangered species. All provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have completed their
field investigations, data processing and analyses.
119. Beginning in 2000, China conducted an annual statistical survey of nature reserves to collect
information on numbers, areas, categories, classes, target species as well as regional distribution and
sectoral distribution of nature reserves. Some nature reserves monitored natural resources and
biodiversity, and established monitoring networks for rare and endangered species including Giant
Panda.
120. Although China has achieved progress in research and monitoring of biodiversity, there
remain gaps according to the requirements of the CBD. Application of rapid assessment and remote
sensing technology remains limited. The indicators and methodologies for investigation and
monitoring need to be standardized and normalized, and the approaches to monitoring are not
advanced. Data sharing between sectors and with the public has not been achieved. The institutional
capacity for monitoring is weak, and the expertise of monitoring personnel needs improvement. The
purpose for monitoring also needs attention to ensure that resulting data will lead to useful
management information.
v. Protection of Rare and Threatened Species
121. From 1997 to 1998, China published the China Red Data Book on Endangered Fauna. In
1999, China promulgated the first batch of National Key Wild Flora under Protection, which includes
246 flora species in eight categories. Thirty-three nature reserves for Giant Pandas have been
established, covering 165,000 ha of panda habitats and 643,000 ha of protected area. From 1991 to
2000, China Research Center for Protection of Giant Panda, at Wolong, Sichuan Province, bred 37
Giant Pandas that survived. The numbers of Crested Ibis Nipponia nippon have increased from 7
when it was first rediscovered in 1981 to more than 920 in 2006.
vi. Status of Scientific Research on Ex-situ Conservation in China
122. Studies on the introduction of plants and the mechanism by which rare plants become
endangered have been extensively conducted in introduction and propagation centers across the
country.
123. Captive breeding has been conducted for species including Giant Panda, Crested Ibis
Nipponia nippon, Golden Monkey Rhinopithecus spp., and South China Tiger Panthera tigris
amoyensis in zoos and wild animal breeding centers. In some cases, progress has been achieved,
and captive populations have increased. Few if any captive breeding programs have led to
reintroductions of captive animals for conservation.
vii. International Cooperation on Ex-situ Conservation
124. China and the US have cooperated on the research on Giant Panda breeding and
germplasm resources. The study of Giant Panda breeding was also conducted with Japan. Studies
of nutrition, management, and veterinary care of Giant Pandas and tigers were conducted with IUCN.
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