Governance of Biodiversity Conservation in China and Taiwan

Conservation of Chinese Plant Diversity: An Overview

“…Nevertheless, nature reserves are afflicted with other serious problems besides insufficient budgets. Overlapping management-in some cases involving up to seven administrations can cause confusion, inefficiency, uncertain boundaries, and multiple designations of the same reserve (López-Pujol et al, 2006;McBeath & Wang, 2009). Another common problem of Chinese PAs is that they are too small to maintain genetic diversity or to ensure species and ecosystem viability (Liu et al, 2003;Xu H. et al, 2009).…”

“…For example, the 'Great Leap Forward ' (1958-1961), a period in which communities were encouraged to be self-sufficient in steel, involved the cutting down of at least 10% of China's forests to fuel backyard furnaces (Liu, 2010). The development policies that followed were not much better, and during the Cultural Revolution (1966)(1967)(1968)(1969)(1970)(1971)(1972)(1973)(1974)(1975)(1976) numerous forests, grasslands and wetlands were transformed into farmlands (McBeath & Leng, 2006). Following the adoption of the country's 'open-door' policies in 1978, although the government began to pass numerous laws for environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, and many protected areas have been set up (see following sections), economic development has taken priority over nature conservation (Liu & Diamond, 2005;Wang et al, 2007).…”

“…Engaging local communities in conservation activities as well as in the planning and management of reserves also constitutes a useful tool for the long-term sustainability of nature reserves, since the pressures placed on reserves by local residents are largely eased (McBeath & Leng, 2006;MacKinnon & Xie, 2008). Enhancing public participation should also include the NGOs, which in other countries have demonstrated a good performance in both assisting in the PAs management as well as resolving people-park conflicts (McBeath & Leng, 2006;Qiu et al, 2009). Nevertheless, nature reserves are afflicted with other serious problems besides insufficient budgets.…”

“…Tourism creates opportunities for local people, but this should evolve towards sustainability, and planned and managed to combine biodiversity protection while ensuring adequate economic benefits to local communities (Quan et al, 2011). Engaging local communities in conservation activities as well as in the planning and management of reserves also constitutes a useful tool for the long-term sustainability of nature reserves, since the pressures placed on reserves by local residents are largely eased (McBeath & Leng, 2006;MacKinnon & Xie, 2008). Enhancing public participation should also include the NGOs, which in other countries have demonstrated a good performance in both assisting in the PAs management as well as resolving people-park conflicts (McBeath & Leng, 2006;Qiu et al, 2009).…”

“…An additional problem is their lack of connectivity through biological corridors (MacKinnon & Wang, 2008). Establishing a centralized management by a new State Agency of Nature Reserves Service at state-level, and upgrading the current Regulation of Nature Reserves (of 1994) to a new Nature Reserve Law (which is currently being drafted) seem necessary steps to achieve more comprehensive planning and management of the Chinese PAs network (Yu, 2008;McBeath & Wang, 2009). …”