The city of Xining in Northwest China’s Qinghai Province recently hosted a pivotal forum discussing the expansion of China’s National Park system. This timely discussion comes on the heels of the establishment of five parks in 2021, including the notable Giant Panda National Park.
The forum spotlighted the addition of several new sites to the national parks roster. Among them are Huanghekou Park, positioned at the Yellow River estuary in Shandong Province, and the Qian Jiang Yuan-Bai Shan Zu Park located in southwestern Zhejiang Province. Remarkably, the latter is an amalgamation of two parks, covering a sprawling 754 square kilometers. This expansive parkland cradles the estuary of significant rivers like the Qiantang River, which has historical ties to China’s ancient Wuyue culture, prevalent in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces. The park, with its intricate forest ecosystem echoing nature’s pristine beauty, stands as a significant ecological protectorate of the Yangtze River Delta.
Huanghekou Park holds another distinction. It’s China’s pioneering park that harmoniously integrates both terrestrial and marine resources. Dominated by wetland ecosystems, the park serves as a refuge for several endangered avian species.
Xiong Chulong, a distinguished environmental and ecological expert, provided insights into the National Park initiative. He emphasized the system’s strategic role in preserving China’s most emblematic and diverse ecosystems. The selection and evaluation process is meticulous, seeking not only to conserve green spaces but to maintain a holistic balance, factoring in human interactions with these biodiverse environments.
The conference shared heartening updates about the resurgence of biodiversity in the initial set of national parks. Impressively, the Tibetan antelope population has burgeoned to over 70,000 within the Three-River-Source (Sanjiangyuan) National Park. Additionally, the Wuyi Mountain National Park, spanning the Jiangxi and Fujian provinces, has witnessed the discovery of 17 new toad species.
Such encouraging developments stem from China’s commitment to implementing stringent environmental measures. These include decommissioning approximately 390 mining operations and reconfiguring over 100 hydropower stations to align with ecological objectives.
Conservationists and environmentalists are keen on incorporating innovative measures to ensure these national parks thrive. For example, the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park has pioneered an industry incubator focusing on cultivating black fungus.
Guan Zhi’ou, the chief of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, underscored the importance of eco-tourism and nature education as avenues to sustainably grow these national parks.
Another groundbreaking announcement from the forum was the introduction of the “Sensor System” – a technological management system crafted by Chinese experts. Harnessing tools such as remote sensing and underwater robotics, this system gathers vast amounts of monitoring data. Already in use in the initial parks launched in 2021, it’s set to play a pivotal role in their planned development from 2023 to 2030.
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