Final Report - Asian Development Bank

TA 4721-PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
Final Report Appendix 5
However, in biodiversity conservation position in Qinling Mountains, there are still some small-sized
rare and endangered or unique wild animals which can not be protected effectively. And the research
of them is almost blank. Take Qinling Lenok (Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis) for example: it is a
typical cold water fish kept in the stream of river end �������, which is the national � class
protected wildlife as well as a unique species in Qinling Mountains. Qinling Mountains is the most
southern part of Lenok (Brachymystax lenok) distribution area, spread narrowly and split to dots in the
end of the tributary of Wei River which flows from Gansu Province to Shaanxi Province altitude 1,000-
2,300 m. But from 1960 to now more than 40 year the Qinling Lenok distribution scope has already
retreated about 10 km, that is from originally lowest distributed altitude 1,000 m going up to 1,200 m in
Shaanxi Province Longxian County. Although the Qinling Lenok nature reserve was founded in
Longxian County, the Qinling Lenok are caught and killed crazily because of its large figure, delicious
flesh, high nutritional and ornamental value as well as seriously lacking of funds for protection, making
the Qinling Lenok population reduces rapidly. Except for the description of its outside shape and
distribution in Qinling Mountains, we know almost nothing about the rare and endangered fish. If the
power of the protection and scientific research were not strengthened, the Qinling Lenok would
possibly extinct in the near future. Basing on above analysis and from biodiversity conservation view,
we suggest GEF strengthen financial support power to protection and scientific research to the middle
and small sized fauna which are rare and endangered or unique in Qinling Mountains.
(i) Establishing a program called “Chinese Giant Salamander reproductive biology
research” in-situ area in the Qinling National Botanic Garden (the Project Area).
Suggesting the research work be done on Chinese Giant Salamander in reproductive
ecology, reproductive physiology, reproductive behavior and conservation biology and
so on.
224. Establishing a programs called “the Qinling Lenok biology research” in-situ area in the
Qinling National Botanic Garden and the Shaanxi Longxian Qinling Lenok Nature Reserve at the same
time. Suggesting the research work is done in conservation biology (for example�the primary
endangered factors), reproductive ecology, reproductive behavior (for example, breeding migration
time) and population biology (for example�the population age structure relationship, relationship
between number and environment) and so on.
D. Part 4 The Inhabitant Livelihood and the Nature Reserve Construction Program in the
Project Area or Qinling Mountains
(i) The inhabitant livelihood is difficult at present in the Project Area (the Qinling National
Botanical Garden). Their production and living action have great pressure on the
environment. So improving the inhabitant livelihood is the main task for the Project
Area biodiversity conservation. With the WWF financial and technical aid, the
inhabitant livelihood in The Foping National Nature Reserve has been improved by
breeding bee and horse. Suggesting GEF learn from WWF achievement, support the
inhabitant breeding bee and Chinese Giant Salamander in order to improve their
livelihood.
(ii) The Shaanxi Longxian Qinling Lenok Nature Reserve is a place which has the Qinling
Lenok the largest population and distribution the most concentrated. Because of
serious lacking of funds for protection and management, now the most basic
equipments for protection (for example, patrol equipment) and handle official business
work appliance are lacked in the nature reserve.
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