Final Report - Asian Development Bank

TA 4721-PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
Final Report Appendix 6
C. Shaanxi Treasured Wild Animal Rescue and Research Center (SARC)
1. Jurisdiction of SARC
15. In 2001 the Government of Shaanxi issued a Document to approve the establishment of the
Shaanxi Treasured Wild Animal Rescue and Research Center (SARC). It has equal status as a county
level government in managing the government affairs as defined in the legal document. It has an initial
capital of CNY2.48 Million and can employ 28 staff with 3 managers. The government meets all of its
operating costs.
16. It has registered with the Government Affairs Unit Registration Bureau of Shaanxi as an
independent legal entity.
2. Mandates of SARC
17. The following mandates are assigned to the SARC:
(i) provide services for rescuing, raising, research and protection of treasured and
endangered wild animals
(ii) work within Shaanxi province
(iii) rescue endangered wild animals on the national protection animal list. For raising and
breeding wild animals on national protection animals list, a permit has to be given by
the Forestry Bureau. SARC has this permit.
(iv) raise, breed, research, and raise public awareness of these animals
(v) conduct activities of using these animals for development purposes
(vi) establish a joint venture or commercial company for development purposes
18. The animals in the center are open to the public with provision of extension information while
SARC may collect entry tickets. It can borrow for establishment of facilities within its mandate. It has
the right to repay the loan from the revenue generated through their commercial activities.
19. SARC shares an accounting office with the Louguantai Forestry Park and Louguantai Forestry
Farm. But SARC uses a different accounting system for its revenue. According to the PPTA Financial
Governance Report, the current accounting system of SARC is not sufficient to meet the requirement
of ADB loan management. It is suggested that SARC needs to be able to use the Capital Construction
Accounting Guidelines.
20. SARC shares the forestry land area of Louguantai Forestry Farm, and is entitled to use the
land within in their mandates. It can use the forestry farm’s land to build a Giant Panda Base and Ibis
Base. It is eligible to use the forestry farm’s land to establish an exhibition zoo and education center
but requires approval to use the land for other construction from the Forestry Department and Land
Management Department.
3. Link to the Qinling Mountain area
21. It is planned in the Qinling National Ecological Function Management Zone Plan that there will
be five wildlife rescue centers established under the plan. SARC is the first one established in the
province.
4. Conclusion
SARC will be eligible as a borrower of the ADB loan under the Project. It will implement ex-situ
activities and some in-situ strategy activities. It will be one of the implementing agencies of the project.
SARC will need to adopt the Capital Construction Accounting Guidelines to be able to handle the loan
monitoring and repayment requirements.
22. SARC is proposing to contract a company to manage its tourism commercial activities. They
will use the revenue generated from the tourism operation to repay the loan, and they will serve as an
example of promoting conservation eco-tourism described in the design document of the project.
3