Protecting wild plants, the National Arboretum is just a new beginning

【Ecological observation】

Editor's note

To build a beautiful China where man and nature coexist in harmony, the protection of wild plants is undoubtedly an important foundation.

On June 5th, World Environment Day is coming, let us focus on the protection of plant biodiversity——

　　Since the end of April, my country's first National Botanical Garden, located at the foot of Fragrant Hills in Beijing, has been transformed into a "check-in resort", attracting the public's attention.

It is based on the existing conditions of the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (South Garden) and the Beijing Botanical Garden (North Garden) to expand capacity and increase efficiency. More than 15,000 species of plants have been protected ex situ.

　　Since then, the national botanical garden system has been established, and it has steadily advanced towards the goal of ex situ conservation of more than 85% of wild native plants in my country and the vast majority of nationally protected wild plant species.

Some netizens can't help but sigh: "With the National Botanical Garden, I'm no longer afraid that some plants will disappear!" However, one side of the water and soil grows the other side of the plant, ex situ protection is only a kind of wild plant protection. Many of the ten thousand species of higher plants are under increasing threat due to habitat loss or fragmentation, overuse of resources and other factors.

To further strengthen in situ protection and ex situ protection, and protect these silent elves in the mountains and rivers, it is urgent to join hands with all parties. You and I work together.

1 Formation of a protection system combining in situ and ex situ

　　A small seed can bring a huge increase in yield; an inconspicuous handful of Artemisia annua can overcome the problem of malaria.

　　my country is one of the countries with the richest biodiversity in the world. There are about 36,000 to 41,000 species of higher plants, half of which are endemic to China.

These wild plant resources, as a very basic part of the earth's ecosystem, not only provide human beings with the resources necessary for survival such as food, vegetables, medicinal materials, wood, flowers and oxygen, but also important strategic resources, containing rich biological Genetics is the material carrier and source of inspiration for cultural development.

"It can be said that the protection of wild plant resources is an important guarantee for human beings to achieve resource security, biosecurity and ecological security." said Zhou Zhihua, deputy director of the Wildlife Protection Department of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration.

　　Every plant has unique requirements for the growing environment.

Over the years, some wild plants are on the verge of extinction due to habitat destruction, over-exploitation, climate change, invasion of alien species, and limited reproduction of their own species, and it is urgent to take effective protection and rescue measures.

For example, Baihuashan grapes, once distributed in Dongling Mountain, Baihua Mountain and Qingzaojiagou in Beijing, are currently only two wild plants left in the world, and they are almost extinct. They are called the "loneliest" grapes in the world.

The staff of Songshan National Nature Reserve in Beijing said with emotion: "There are still many plants like this, and it is very likely that they have completely disappeared from the earth before most people know it."

　　How to protect?

In the past 40 years, my country has implemented a number of policies and laws. In particular, the Regulations on Wild Plant Protection and the List of National Key Protected Wild Plants have been promulgated, which have established the legal and policy framework for plant protection in my country.

　　In the form of conservation, in situ conservation is the first choice.

At present, my country has established a system of nature reserves with national parks as the main body, including about 11,800 nature reserves at all levels, such as national parks, nature reserves, and nature parks, accounting for 18% of the land area and sea area. of 4.1%.

Ex situ conservation refers to the way to implement protection by transferring endangered wild plants from their native places to a well-conditioned artificial and controllable environment or suitable habitat by means of introduction and propagation.

According to the relevant person in charge of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, the national botanical garden system is based on a number of national botanical gardens, leading the ex situ conservation research network that radiates key regions or important groups of characteristic botanical gardens, and covers major climatic zones and vegetation types across the country.

According to statistics, there are about 200 botanical gardens in my country, which initially constitute the network of ex situ plant protection in China.

At present, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration is organizing the preparation of the "National Botanical Garden System Construction Plan", which will comprehensively improve the level of ex situ conservation of wild plants, scientific research, popular science education and gardening and horticultural display in my country by promoting the construction of the national botanical garden system.

2 Plant protection policies and regulations need to be optimized and improved

　　In September 2021, the adjusted new version of the "List of National Key Protected Wild Plants" was officially announced, and 455 species and 40 categories (about 1,101 species) of national first-level and second-level key protected wild plants were among them. Legal protection.

"Many people pay attention to precious medicinal materials like Dendrobium, and they can be recognized in the wild, but ordinary people don't know about some rare orchid plants. How can we protect them?" said Jin Xiaohua, a researcher at the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. One of the many shortcomings of plant protection in my country.

　　He pointed out that only from the perspective of policies and regulations, there is a lot of room for improvement in both in situ and ex situ protection of wild plants in my country. The protection system is not strong, the basic research and investment are insufficient, the scale is not enough, and the laws on the management of genetic resources are not perfect.

　　"At present, my country's plant protection only has regulations, not laws. In terms of management regulations, compared with animal protection management, the "Wild Plant Protection Regulations" have few and extensive measures on plant protection, and many clauses lack details and are difficult to operate. For example, in the plant development and utilization management system, there are no trade links such as processing and transportation involved, and it is difficult to distinguish between purchase and purchase, and it is difficult to implement. At the same time, the regulations on penalties for illegal acts are too simple, and many nature reserves management agencies lack enforcement. There are no penalties for destroying or polluting the original habitat of wild plants and illegal processing of wild plants; the punishment is light and the cost of crime is low; there is no detailed distinction between the degree of harm and its consequences, currently there are only two levels, and there is no penalty for logging, Different behaviors such as excavation, collection of leaves, seeds, etc., all lead to unscientific, unreasonable, and unfair phenomena in the enforcement of laws, making public awareness of protection insufficient and enforcement difficult." Zhou Zhihua said.

　　For some wild plants with development and utilization value, the current regulations on "degree" are still vague.

The reporter learned that after the promulgation of the "Regulations on the Protection of Wild Plants", no supporting and detailed management regulations have been formulated. For example, secondary protected wild plants are often allowed to be used to a certain extent, but no management methods for collection certificates have been formulated, nor are they available. Sustainability principles are specified in an appropriate manner.

　　In addition, as the key "list" for the protection of wild plants, the "List of National Key Protected Wild Plants" was released in the first edition in 1999, and it has been adjusted for 22 years. Species, and even many critically endangered flagship species, including orchids and sedum family Rhodiola, have not been listed, resulting in long-term unreliable protection and management, so regular changes to the list are more urgent.

3 The public is the best participant in wild plant protection

　　The law is the yardstick of the world.

The reporter learned that the State Forestry and Grassland Administration is currently actively promoting the revision of the Regulations on the Protection of Wild Plants.

In the opinion of industry experts, wild plant protection still has a long way to go.

The revision of the Regulations on Nature Reserves and the Regulations on Scenic Spots and Historic Sites should be accelerated, and regulations such as the Law on Nature Reserves and the Law on National Parks should be promulgated to solve the problem of scattered and contradictory in situ protection regulations, and clearly assign the management of nature reserves. Institutional enforcement powers, and improve local protection measures.

　　The protection of wild plants is highly specialized, and it is necessary to strengthen scientific support.

For example, there are many kinds of wild plants. In recent years, new species have been discovered in the investigation. It is urgent to have a stable and sufficient wild plant research team for long-term support.

Another example is that many plants can be cultivated artificially, but it is difficult to distinguish between artificial and wild sources during law enforcement, and new practical traceability technologies need to be developed for identification.

Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the cultivation of scientific research talents, strengthen the participation of scientific research institutions in an all-round way, and fully absorb the revision of the directory, the construction and management of protected areas, the establishment and operation of ex-situ conservation institutions, the development of breeding and return activities, the revision of laws, and the promotion of popular science. Expert strength, listen to professional opinions, and encourage scientific research activities to save endangered wild plants.

　　To strengthen the protection of wild plants, the people in the native places of plants are undoubtedly the best participants.

Jin Xiaohua suggested that we should seek sustainable utilization of wild plant resources, select local representative species with ornamental value, develop natural education, recreational and leisure activities, develop characteristic cultural and creative products, and promote their active participation by benefiting local people. In situ protection.

It is necessary to fully promote the participation of scientific research departments, social groups and the public in the protection work, and design projects that are easy to participate in, such as patrolling, monitoring, breeding, and returning to the wild of endangered species, and raising funds from the society, which not only expands funding channels, but also expands protection forces. , but also to disseminate conservation ideas and knowledge.

　　He also emphasized that the public is not as sensitive to the destruction of wild plants as it is to wild animals, and the social concern is low, and the publicity and education work on plant protection needs to be strengthened.

It is necessary to innovate methods and methods, fully study the communication characteristics of the convergent media era, and use various in-situ and ex-situ conservation institutions, museums, popular science bases, as well as media, networks, etc., to unite the power of the government, research institutions, NGOs and the public Jointly promote the publicity of wild plant protection, strengthen the public's emotional connection and knowledge of plants, and widely use pictures, short videos, image endorsements and other methods to promote the public's understanding and support of plant protection, and abide by laws and regulations.

(Reporter Yang Shu of this newspaper)