Final Report - Asian Development Bank

) Objective
50. The impact of the proposed Project will be to improve the wellbeing of rural communities in the
Project Area based on the sustainable conservation and use of Qinling Mountain resources. There will be
increased smallholder incomes and skills for livelihood diversification including the ability of the rural
poor to access higher paid employment. Income diversification will be supported through the
development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), the expansion of pro-poor tourism and ecotourism
opportunities, and the reallocation of land and adoption of appropriate forest based land use activities.
Biodiversity conservation will be enhanced through habitat protection and restoration programs linked to
conservation forestry, strengthened management and ex-situ species management programs and extensive
awareness and education programs.
.
c) Outcomes
51. The Project’s outcome is to introduce an integrated landscape management approach to provide
sustainable livelihoods for the population of the Project area as a demonstration for the wider Qinling
Mountains. The Project will address underlying causes and effects of both historical and contemporary
resource degradation. The main targets and indicators will be (i) demonstration of an integrated spatial
plan for Louguan Township and surrounding forest farm; (ii) livelihood improvement for up to 12,000
farmers and 40 associated enterprises, (iii) environmental treatment of over 90% of all waste streams
arising from mass tourism, (iv) management plans prepared for at least 6 endangered species, (v)
measurable increases in the extent and quality of habitat within the Project area, (vi) increased tourism
visitation from 300,00 to more than 1 million by 2020, and (vii) contribution to at least 2 managed
conservation breeding programs.
d) Activities/Project Components
i). Component One: Tourism to support Conservation
52. Component one will support three commercial enterprises to develop and expand their business
models within the ex-situ zone. These enterprises include (i) Qinling Botanic Garden, (ii) the Shaanxi
Animal Rescue centre, and (iii) Louguantai hot Springs Development.
53. Qinling Botanic Garden (QBG) is a new business enterprise consisting of 269 ha of
constructed gardens to represent the plants of Qinling and PRC. The gardens will be interlinked with
walkways along which public education and awareness displays will inform the public on themes such as
natural history, environment and biodiversity. The QBG will also construct a major exhibition hall to
represent aspects of natural history and a service reception center including hospitality and restaurant
functions. The gardens will be linked by walkways and a 1230m cable car to a series of Daoist temple
sites that will be restored and protected. The vision of the botanic garden is that it will be the entry point
for visitors to the “Lougauntai experience”.
54. The 18 constructed gardens will amount to 57 ha interspersed amongst 25 ha of lawn. The
garden display will be supported with a geothermal heated greenhouse operation for propagation and
display purposes. The site will require utilities and infrastructure to minimize the visitation impact on the
environment and the gardens themselves. Electric vehicles will be used to move people around the garden
as needed.