Final Report - Asian Development Bank

TA 4721-PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
Final Report Appendix 4
35. Within the Qinling Mountain system, environmental protection and conservation are linked to
the agriculture, forestry, energy, water resources, livelihoods and other policy areas on a local,
regional and national level. To begin to address the complex challenge of meeting a wide range of
sustainable land use objectives and integrating biological resource management, the adoption of a
strategic approach is required. Thus, the LSMA approach provides a holistic planning framework for
the management of large ‘landscape’ units within the “Living Landscape”.
36. Successful LSMA requires and contributes to greater transparency and accountability and
better governance practices. Experience elsewhere is showing that LSMA helps to promote forest
and agricultural governance arrangements that improve livelihoods and promote sustainable forest
and land management. In so doing, complementary initiatives that address forest law enforcement
and governance are encouraged.
37. An important aspect of adopting a LSMA for this project is that it would address wide ranging
issues which support the restoration of the Qinling Botanical Garden Conservation and
Demonstration Area (QBCDA) landscape and its corresponding habitats as outlined in the Qinling
Botanic Gardens Feasibility Study rather than concentrating on the conservation of single species
flora and fauna with its associated inherent difficulties.
38. The term ‘landscape’ is both a collective and descriptive word. Without precise definition, its
meaning remains ambiguous, both in general usage, between academic fields and within individual
disciplines. As a concept it is elusive in everyday use encompassing natural values, cultural and
symbolic values and sensory experiences. The ‘landscape’ concept by definition; implies the
integration of economic, environmental and socio-cultural qualities in a physical setting. These
qualities are driven by wide ranging factors which are ever changing and as they do so, the
landscape changes in response. The changes may be either positive or negative for the environment
depending on the policy objectives pursued.
39. The so called ‘driving changes’ which have occurred in the Qinling Mountain system have
been both biophysical and socio-economic in nature. Landscape change is a normal process since it
is a physical reflection of changes in land use which may be both anthropogenic and / or natural
influences 9 . However, when changes occur rapidly this can dramatically affect the qualities and
internal coherence of the ‘landscape’.
40. Landscape change has occurred in the Qinling Mountains over extended periods of time. The
recorded history of the area goes back over two thousand years, but occupation by humans and their
influence on the landscape probably extends back many more millennia. Increasing levels of
technological advancement and mechanization linked to aggressive and non-sustainable policies
within the recent past – 50 years or so – have been the greatest destructive influences. The extractive
industries such as forestry, power generation and mining have been able to exploit the areas natural
resources to the full.
41. Over a short period, as a result, the forest structure has simplified. Many of the ‘climax’ forest
species have been decimated and the natural forest structure destroyed. Along the river systems, the
riparian habitats have been severely damaged and road building programs have fragmented
landscape units and habitats. This has resulted in a major reduction of habitat and associated
biodiversity and also the essential connectivity between habitats. Additionally, farming activities have
led to the clearance of vegetation cover and poor cultivation practices on steep slopes. This has
eventually led to extensive soil erosion problems in hill and mountain areas.
42. The Chinese Government responded to the environmental issues created by aggressive
forestry management and over harvesting within the Qinling mountain forest landscapes and the
problems of erosion and deforestation created by agricultural activities via the introduction of two
major environmental land based programs:
9 Natural influences may include, global warming, natural forest fires, disease and pest etc.
7