China’s First National Report on Implementation of

The Convention on Biological Diversity

Organized by State Environmental Protection Administration of China

Executive Summary

As early as November,1992, China issued "A Ten-point Policy for Environment and Development", which was formulated to materialize the spirit of the UNCED. In this document, a strategy of sustainable development for economic development was proposed. Measures have been put forward for afforestation, promoting eco-agriculture and strengthening biodiversity conservation and employment of economic instruments to protect the environment. In the National Ninth Five-year Plan for Economic and Social Development and Long-term Program for 2010, which were issued in March, 1996, the strategy of sustainable development and the policy of environmental protection was reemphasized as one of the basic state policies that would be implemented. To do this, the State Council promulgated“Decision on Strengthening Environmental Protection”in September, 1996. In this document there was a clear statement that active measures will be adopted for biodiversity conservation and development of nature reserves.

In 1996, NEPA, SPC and State Economic and Trade Commission (SETC) jointly formulated the "National Ninth Five-year Plan for Environmental Protection and Long-term Program for 2010". It put forward the environmental goal by phases, main tasks, plans and policies for environment for the next 15 years. Biodiversity conservation is listed as a key task for the ninth five-year plan period.

To strengthen biodiversity conservation, from 1995 to 1997, NEPA and SPC togther with sectors of forestry, agriculture, oceanic administration, construction and mineral resources formulated "China's Plan for Development of Nature Reserves" (1996-2010). This plan summarizes the current situation of the construction and management of nature reserves in China and proposes goals for nature reserve planning for two phases, i.e. from 1996 to 2000 and from 2001 to 2010 and specific planning programs.

From 1993 to 1996, the Committee of Environmental Protection(CEP) under the State Council and the Committee of Environment and Resources Protection of the National People's Congress(NPC) brought together the sectors of environment, forestry, agriculture, industry and commerce administration, foreign trade, oceanic administration, public security, justice and journalism in a national investigation on enforcement of environmental laws and regulations which lead to punishment for illegal sales of wildlife and its products, illegal hunting, collection, processing, import and export of wild animals. Thousands of illegal cases have been investigated and given proper penalties.

NEPA, the Publicity Sector of the Chinese Communist Party(CCP) and the State Education Commission (SEC) jointly formulated and launched "National Program for Environmental Education and Publicity" (1996-2010). The Committee of Environment and Resources Protection of NPC, Publicity Department of CCP, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Broadcasting and Television, NEPA, Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Communist Youth League and other relevant sectors jointly organized the publicity activities in 1994 entitled "Trans-century Environmental Trip Around China". Biodiversity conservation was a part of this activity.

The State Science and Technology Commission (SSTC) formulated ”A Plan for Development of Technology for Social Development” in 1996, which incorporated studies on biodiversity data sharing and other relevant subjects into the action plan for social development and the plan of key science and technology projects for social development in the 9th five-year plan period. The Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS) identified biodiversity conservation as an area of priority for development in its Action P1an for Agenda 21 and listed biodiversity research as a key area of science and technology development in the 21st century". In its "Plan for Development of Science and Technology from l996 to 2000 and for 2010” and “Strategy and Policy for Biology Development in the 21^st Century”. In its plan for key fundamental research from 1996 to 2000, the State Education Commission (SEC) has identified studies on biodiversity and ecosystem conservation and biotechnology as key area of support. In the past few years, CAS and SEC have organized and carried out many major research projects on biodiversity and achieved tremendous accomplishments in training people for studies on biodiversity.

Ministry of Forestry (MOF) has introduced in recent years a system of management of forest and wild plant and animal resources and practiced the rule of non-gratuitous and limited use of wild biological resources. It launched “Regulation Concerning Protection of Terrestrial Wild Animals". It is implementing "Regulation Concerning Wild Plants". It has formulated the "Forestry Action Plan for China's Agenda 21", "Program for implementing the Statement on Forest Principle Issues" and "Engineering Plan for Protection of Giant Panda and Its Habitat". Considerable progress has been made in the establishment of nature reserves, protection of wild animals and plants, wetland protection, desertification control and afforestation.

Ministry of Agriculture (MOA ) has formulated policies for conservation of agricultural biodiversity, development of ecological farming and development and conservation of energy resources in rural areas. It formulated and launched "Regulation Concerning Protection of New Plant Varieties", "Implementing Rules for Agricultural Crop Seed for Regulation Concerning Seed Management" and "Regulation Concerning Protection of Wild Aquatic Animals". It is enforcing "Regulation Concerning Protection of Wild Plants". MOA has also formulated "Action Plan for Conservation of Agricultural Biodiversity" and "Ninth Five-year Plan and 2010 Planning for Environmental Protection in Agricultural Sector". With its support and efforts, practical progress has been achieved in protection of genetic resources, construction of eco-farming, protection of wild aquatic animals and monitoring of agricultural environment.

Ministry of Construction has implemented the policy of non-gratuitous use of resources in tourism attractions and places of historical interest. It promulgated "Regulation Concerning Management of Tourism Attractions", "Notice on Strengthening Ex situ Conservation of Wild Animals in Zoos", "Regulation Concerning Management of Urban Zoos" and "Notice on Strengthening Protection and Management of Ancient Woods and Rare Timber Species". It has formulated the "Plan for Ex-situ Conservation of Giant Panda", "Plan for Protection of Nipponia nippon", "Plan for Protection of South China Tiger", "Plan for Conservation of Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Urban Gardens and Zoos" and "Plan for Integrated Protection of Rare Plant Species in Citie". Considerable progress has been made in ex-situ conservation of endangered and rare species.

The State Oceanic Administration has formulated the policy of integrated conservation and development of marine resources. It issued "Method of Management of Marine Nature Reserves". It also formulated "China Marine Agenda 21", "China Action Plan for Conservation of Marine Biodiversity", "China National Program for Marine Reserves" and "China Action Plan for Protection and Management of Mangrove Ecosystems". Progress has been made in the protection of marine resources, management of oceanic information and monitoring of the marine environment.

The government of China and relevant sectors have been devoted to creating conditions and raising the funds to ensure that the above strategies, action plans, policies and programs are implemented. In reality, almost all the action plans and programs are being implemented to a varying extent, in particular, the priority projects identified in China Agenda 21 and China Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan are being implemented or being initiated. But from the overall situation, the initiation or implementation of many action plans is slow, mainly due to lack of financial resources at the national, cross-sectoral and sectoral levels. Therefore financial and technical assistance from the international community is urgently needed.

Although recognized as very important, there is a long road to fully implement Article 6 of the CBD. Though China has taken practical measures, there are still gaps.At the national level, there is a need to formulate specific programs on the basis of the Country Study and Action Plan. At the cross-sectoral level, there is an urgent need to complete the "China Strategy and Action Plan for Wetland Protection" and formulate the "Strategy and Action Plan for Conservation of Wild Animals and Plants" and regulations on biosafety management. At the sectoral level, there is a need to formulate action plans and programs as well as relevant policies and regulations for protection of genetic resources, sustainable utilization of Chinese medicine,biodiversity research and education and protection of mangrove and coral reefs.

China has made progress in implementing CBD and obtained experience in implementing the strategy of sustainable development and strengthening ecological construction and management and in cross-sectoral cooperation. China is also trying to build an effective internal mechanism to supervise the implementation of the CBD. It is hoped that through formulation of this report, international information exchange will be increased for sharing of experience among the Parties.