(Biodiversity Conference) China's ecological protection red line: provide innovative solutions for global biodiversity conservation
China News Service, Kunming, October 10th, title: China's ecological protection red line: providing innovative solutions for global biodiversity conservation
China News Agency reporter Ruan Yulin
China has innovated the ecological space protection model, marking areas with extremely important ecological functions and areas with extremely fragile ecological functions into the red line of ecological protection and strictly protecting them.
The red line of ecological protection is an important institutional innovation in the reform of the ecological environment system and mechanism. It is an original concept and ecological protection model in China and provides an innovative solution for the protection of global biodiversity.
Ecological protection red line: identify priority areas for biodiversity protection
In 2011, the State Council’s opinion on strengthening key environmental protection work put forward that the state compiles environmental function zoning and delineates ecological red lines in important ecological function areas, terrestrial and marine ecological environment sensitive areas, and fragile areas. To formulate corresponding environmental standards and environmental policies, this is the first time that the ecological protection red line system is mentioned in a national document.
In 2017, the "Several Opinions on Delineating and Strictly Observing the Red Line of Ecological Protection" proposed that before the end of 2020, the national ecological protection red line will be fully delineated, the delimitation of the mark, the ecological protection red line system will be basically established, and the land and ecological space will be optimized and effective Protection, ecological functions remain stable, and the national ecological security pattern is more complete.
At present, the national ecological protection red line delineation is basically completed. The initially delineated national ecological protection red line area is not less than 25% of the land area, covering key ecological function areas, ecological environment sensitive areas and fragile areas. The key area of the national biodiversity distribution.
"China has established a natural reserve system with national parks as the main body, took the lead in proposing and implementing an ecological protection red line system internationally, clarifying priority areas for biodiversity conservation, and playing an active role in maintaining habitats for important species", Ecological Environment Deputy Minister Zhao Yingmin said.
The white paper "Conservation of Biodiversity in China" points out that the red line of ecological protection covers important ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, deserts, wetlands, mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass beds, covering key areas of biodiversity distribution across the country, and protecting most rare Endangered species and their habitats.
China breaks the boundaries of administrative regions, connects existing natural reserves, fully considers the integrity of important biogeographic units and types of ecosystems, and delimits 35 priority areas for biodiversity conservation.
Among them, 32 land priority areas have a total area of 2.763 million square kilometers, accounting for about 28.8% of the land area, which is of great significance for the effective protection of important ecosystems, species and their habitats.
Ecological protection red line: the original concept and ecological protection model proposed by China
"In order to slow the rate of species extinction and biodiversity loss, the establishment of a protected area system is recognized as a relatively effective way." The reporter said in an interview that in 2010, at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, scientists proposed that at least 17% of land and inland waters, and at least 10% of coastal and marine areas should be protected.
Zou Changxin said that the famous conservation biologist Edward Wilson proposed the "Half Earth" plan in 2016, that is, in order to prevent the loss of biodiversity, half of the earth needs to be protected.
However, relying on the existing protected area system is difficult to achieve the scientifically proposed protected area target.
Zou Changxin proposed that the ecological protection red line has innovatively expanded the scope of protected areas, no longer limited to various traditional protected areas such as nature reserves, but integrated consideration of ecosystem services, ecological fragility and biodiversity conservation hot spots. Emphasizing the integrity and connectivity of natural ecosystems, so as to achieve large-scale and integrated protection of species and habitats, and provide an innovative solution for global biodiversity conservation.
Zou Changxin emphasized that the red line of ecological protection is an original concept and model of ecological protection in China. It is to introduce the term "red line" into the field of ecological protection to achieve the purpose of strengthening ecological protection and better maintaining national and regional ecological security.
China's "Delineation of Ecological Protection Red Lines, Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change" action initiative has been selected as one of the 15 best global cases of the United Nations "Nature-Based Solutions".
Zou Changxin said that in recent years, China's ecological protection red line practice has had an important impact on the international community.
At present, the Chinese government has initially completed the ecological protection red line, the technical methods are mature, and the supporting policies and systems are constantly improving, which can be used for reference and promotion in other countries and regions.
(over)