Final Report - Asian Development Bank

TA 4721-PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
Final Report Appendix 5
Research, survey and management recommendations
Research & monitoring: Long-term field studies show that species survival in the Qinling is
highly probable if critical habitats and Giant Pandas are protected.
Further basic research is not as important as urgent action to implement
conservation recommendations made by leading experts.
Conservation: China’s leading experts advise that population management measures
should focus on the boundary between the farmlands at lower
elevations and the lower forest habitats, or the zone of Giant Panda
winter range. In this area it is important to assess the extent of
coverage of critical habitats by existing nature reserves and extend
reserve boundaries accordingly; Conservation action planning is
needed at three scales 71 : Qinling reserves with Giant Pandas should
develop species action plans as described below; Qinling nature
reserves should also participate in preparation of a joint, landscapescale
conservation action plan for implementation in and around
existing protected areas; finally, Qinling nature reserves should join
reserves in Gansu and Sichuan to draft and implement an ecoregion
conservation action plan for the Giant Panda.
Species survival Urgently assess threats to habitats on Giant Panda winter ranges,
focusing on habitat degradation due to agricultural, forestry, and other
land uses; plan and implement short- and long-term measures to
reduce or eliminate threats; develop and implement winter habitat
enhancement and recovery plans.
Capacity building Train NR personnel in habitat requirements of Giant Panda and in the
planned species protection and recovery methodologies; train NR
personnel and villagers in operation of homestay lodges and pandafriendly
tourism practices.
Public awareness Carry out public awareness campaigns to alert the public to winter
range conservation programs for Giant Panda and elicit public support
for sustainable agriculture and forestry practices that reduce or eliminate
impacts to panda winter habitats.
71 Dinerstein, E., C. Loucks and Lu Zhi. 2004. Biological framework for evaluating future efforts in Giant Panda
conservation. Pages 228-231 in Lindburg, D. and K. Baragona (eds.) 2004. Giant Pandas: Biology and
Conservation. University of California Press. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA.
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