Final Report - Asian Development Bank

TA 4721-PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
Final Report Appendix 15
INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION
1. The project adopts an integrated ecosystem management (IEM) approach to biodiversity
conservation, featuring commercial tourism and sustainable land management, and well-managed
conservation. The Project embodies very different but highly complementary and strongly linked strategies
between the ex-situ zones and the much larger but less populated in-situ zone. The project supports three
enterprises in the ex-situ zone, the Shaanxi Qinling Botanical Garden (SQBG), the Shaanxi Animal Rescue
Center (SARC), and Hot Springs/Daoist Cultural Center (HSDCC). Within the in-situ Conservation
Demonstration Area (CDA) the Project will support Government Policy of increasing the extent and quality
of forest cover while also assisting local residents to improve their livelihoods.
2. The project is classified as category B, in accordance with the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
environment categorization. This SIEE was prepared based on two Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) Reports1.
A. Project Zoning
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
3. The Qinling Mountains (QM) range is located immediately to the south of Xi’an, the provincial
capital of Shaanxi Province (SP), and runs east-west straddling the southern part of SP in the west region
of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The PA is located on the northern slope of the QM, about 45 km
from Xian, comprises an area of 458 km 2 with about 20,400 people. The project seeks to develop three
commercial enterprises to generate the revenue to support habitat rehabilitation and protection activities
and sustainable livelihoods to preserve biodiversity.
4. Ex-situ Area. The ex-situ area consists of a 2 km wide strip of predominantly flat land along the
north side of the Qinling Mountains that is heavily developed for agricultural/horticultural and residential
purposes. The population is approximately 16,000. The Project will develop a Botanical garden and
associated visitor attractions including Daoist temples, enhance the Shaanxi Animal Rescue Center and the
support the continued development of the Louguantai Geothermal Hotsprings.
5. Conservation Demonstration Area consists of steepland with a dispersed population of less than
4,600 persons over an area of about 430 km 2 . The area was previously the Louguantai Forest Farm with
large areas heavily logged. Remoter areas retain high biodiversity values. The project will support habitat
rehabilitation for biodiversity conservation. There are a number of isolated communities in the in-situ area
practicing unsustainable agriculture on steep slopes who will be assisted to develop more sustainable
livelihoods and adopt more appropriate land use practices. The long term vision for the in-situ area is to
develop and enhance the ecological sustainability of natural resources and ecosystems to enable
biodiversity to be enhanced, managed and secured.
B. Project Components
6. There are three project components (see Appendix 7) being:
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(i) Tourism Development to Support Conservation
(ii) Improved livelihoods from the sustainable management and conservation of natural
resources through (i) Improved village and Forest-based Livelihoods and (ii)
Demonstration of Biodiversity Conservation
(iii) Institutional arrangements for sustainable management systems of QM natural resources
demonstrated and replicated
Shaanxi Qinling Botanical Garden (Ex-Situ Area) and the4 SARC completed by Xi'an University of Architecture and
Technology (XUAT)May 2007 awaiting approval which is expected in September 2007. Hot Springs/Daoist
Cultural Center (Phase II) No. 203 Institute of Xianyang June 2007awaiting approval which is expected by September
2007
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