Final Report - Asian Development Bank

TA 4721-PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
Final Report Appendix 7
386. Many kinds of information are required to conserve biodiversity effectively, including data on
ecological relationships, species distribution, status and trends, human uses, and changes in land use.
New technology makes data management more productive than before. For example the development
and improvement of computerized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has greatly enhanced the
analysis and formulation of biodiversity conservation strategies and actions.
387. Effective biodiversity monitoring requires a hierarchical effort from local on the ground work
to global monitoring, i.e. WCMC (World Conservation Monitoring Center).
388. Information needed for biodiversity conservation can be divided into 3 parts:
(i) biological information on individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems for all
kinds of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms
(ii) environmental information on the natural environment such as geology,
geomorphology, climate, water quality and quantity both surface flows and under
ground, soils and air, water and land pollutant
(iii) socio-economic information
389. Objectives of a biodiversity monitoring system should be clearly stated and understood. The
objectives should include:
(i) information of changes in land use, soil conditions and ecosystem health
(ii) accurate information on biota, population size and trends, especially threatened
species
(iii) water quality condition and trends
(iv) Information on air quality, not only related to human effects, but the effects of air borne
pollutants on biodiversity, including agriculture crops.
(v) present the results in a form readily available and understandable to scientists,
managers and the public
(vi) data and information collected and analyzed by government institutions should be
shared without fees to recipient, except for the direct cost of providing the material.
(vii) monitor implementation of policies and projects
390. China made a step towards a national monitoring system when adopting the China
Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan in 1994. The plan includes most of the above objectives plus
components to accomplish these objectives.
391. Monitoring in the QM and project area should be compatible and consistent with National
system, but also provide improved and advanced methods that can be used in the Project Area, and
replicated in the greater QM, and elsewhere in China. This requires:
(i) developing effective information and monitoring system to conserve biodiversity in the
Project area and the greater QM:
(ii) improve sharing, coordination and use of information and monitoring net works
(iii) improve biological information, especially occurrence and distribution data for all
monitoring of trends through use of advanced technologies such as remote sensing
(iv) strengthen field data collection and monitoring
(v) strengthen the use of monitoring in EIA preparation and in decision making
392. Biological and environmental data must be collected, stored and analyzed. Because of the
skills required and expensive technical equipment, some centralization is necessary. However, results
can be made rapidly available to a wide audience through modern information technology transfer.
The Shaanxi Environmental Monitoring Center was established in 1978 as a unit of the Provisional
Environmental Protection Bureau, and is a National Monitoring Station. Last year, the monitoring and
research functions were separated. The Center has responsibilities for monitoring air, water, soil and
water borne microorganisms. There are 10 local monitoring centers in Shaanxi Province, one in Xi’an,
but none located in the QM. There are 6 automatic air monitoring stations, collecting standard air
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