5-3 Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Wetland Resources Project Scope and Relationship to China's Agenda 21 This project provides an action plan for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetland resources in China through investigations on these resources and the establishment of demonstration projects. The project is based on programme areas 14D of China's agenda 21 and related to programme areas 14C, 14H and 15A. 1 . Background Wetlands function as flooding storage against drought, Iocal climate change, controlling of soil erosion, pollutant decomposition and biodiversity conservation etc. At present, conservation and sustainable utilization of wetland resources have raised world wide attention. The Convention on Wetlands of International lmportance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat came into force in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. It aims to save wetlands as the environment of human being and other species. By June, 1993, the number of contracted parties to the Ramsar Convention had increased to 77, and 610 wetlands have been recorded in the list of international importance with a total area of about 44,000,000 hectares. China has the largest areas of wetlands in Asia. Amongst these are many with international importance as waterfowl habitat. There are various types and large areas of wetlands in China. These include marshes, meadow, shallow lakes, salt lakes in the plateau, salt marshes and coastal wetlands. The total area of wetlands is around 25 million hectares, occupying 2.6% of China's territory. In addition, 70 million hectares of artificial wetlands are composed of paddy fields, as well as some reservoirs and ponds. Wetlands exist mainly as: (i) marshes in "Sanjiang" catchments in northeast China; (ii) salt marshes in the Gobi Desert of the Inner Mongolia; (iii) numerous lakes in lower reaches of the Yellow River and of Yangtzi River; (iv) coastal marshes of north of Yangtzi River; (v) coastal marshes and mangroves of south of Yangtzi River; (vi) meadow in the plateau of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan Provinces; (vii) huge salt lakes in the desert of the Uyger Autonomous Region; (viii) alpine lakes in the northern Tianshan Mountains; and (ix) alpine lakes and bogs in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Since 1980, the Chinese government has paid attention to conservation of rare and precious waterfowl and animals such as Red-crown Crane, Crest lbis, Swan and Chinese Alligator. "The bird-loving week", "Crane sightseeing festival" and other public activities have been conducted in nationwide. The wetland nature reserves have been established to protect biodiversity. Till now, 73 reserves have been established to conservation of wetlands and waterfowl habitat in China. However, conservation and management of wetland resources have received inadequate attention for a long period. The approach has been fragmented with many departments responsible for conserving wetlands. Marshes have continued to decrease and are used for cultivation, fish or shrimp ponds. Wildlife species have been killed, and wetland ecosystems have deteriorated due to poor planning and management, as well as other reasons. 2. Objectives Long-term Objectives To formulate and implement a strategy for the conservation of Chinese wetlands. This will include drafting wetland conservation action plans and incorporating them into state development plans and administrative policy in accordance with the Ramsar Convention and China's situation. The strategy will take effective measures to protect wetland ecosystems, species and their habitats, and to sustainably manage wetland ecosystems and the species living in these habitats. Immediate Objectives Formulate China's Wetland Conservation Action Plan to provide a comprehensive framework for promoting relevant departments to conduct urgent, effective and coordinated actions to save China's wetland resources from destruction. Establish reserves and sustainable use of wetland resources 3. Activities 3.l Formulation of the action plan To assess the different categories of wetlands nation-wide and establish wetlands reserves as a high priority through the formulation of a national wetlands oonservation action plan. The general framework of the action plan will include: The current status of Chinese Wetlands by analysis and investigation of their present uses for development and utilization; Formulation of enforcement policies and regulationsp; Formulation of a work plan to include organizations responsible for implementation, policy enforcement measures, programme coordination, management practices, scientific research, education and training, pollution control and investment. The duration of this activity will be 3 years. 3.2 Investigation of Wetland Resources and Biodiversity: Ecosystems as a habitat for waterfowl, including basic hydrological, geological, and climatic data; Cultural and social background of the local area, including details of economic development, natural resources, and development patterns in wetlands; Investigation of waterfowl species, their numbers, distribution, and location; Investigation of factors and sources of pollution posing a threatening to the wetlands; Monitoring of wetland reserves. The duration of this activity will be three years. 3.3 Demonstration of conservation and sustainable utilization of wetland resources. Demonstration sites for wetlands conservation and utilization shall be selected from typical wetlands - BOyang Lake national nature reserve of Jiangxi Province; Hangzhou Bay of0 Zhejiang Province. Zhalong national nature reserve of Heilongjiang province; Bird lsland nature reserve of Qinghai province and Yancheng national nature reserve of Jiangsu province. In-situ conservation and effective management shall be carried out in these sites. The impacts of human activities on the wetlands environment will be assessed in different regions. Carrying out experiments in the demonstration areas for maintaining the biological balance water conservation, flooding storage, conservation of flora and pollution controls. Effective measures and means for the establishment and management of wetlands nature reserves will be formulated at these demonstration sites on the basis of biodiversity conservation, environment protection and sustainable utilization. The duration of this activity will be 4 years. 3.4 Capacity Building Short term training courses and workshops will be held by qualified foreign experts on wetlands protection, sustainahle utilization, and resource management. These courses will enable our staff to understand and master the necessary methods and apply them in the demonstration sites and similar areas. Overseas training will also be provided for 100 persons. The duration of this activity will be 3 years. This project will be organized by the Ministry of Forestry, the National Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 4. Inputs 4.1 Chinese inputs Program management; Experts; Workshop; Action plan formulation; Facililties and equipment; Establishment of demonstration projects 4.2 International Cooperation Experts; Action plan and management; Purchasing apparatus and equipment; Demonstration sites; Personnel training. 4.3 Budget Total funding for the project is US $ 3.6 million, US $ 0.84 million as a national contribution and US $ 2.76 million from international grants. Budget ( in million US dollars ) Items Chinese Inputs External Grant Total Project Management 0.04 -- 0.04 Experts 0.04 0.26 0.30 Workshop 0.02 -- 0.02 Action plan 0.04 0.10 0.14 Office Facilities 0.08 0.40 0.48 Equipments 0.16 0.60 0.76 Demonstration 0.36 1.00 1.36 Training 0.10 0.40 0.50 Total 0.84 2.76 3.60 5. Benefits Implementation the action plan will accelerate the conservation and sustainahle management of wetlands in China. Formulation of the wetlands conservation strategy will help provide a coordinated approach by various government agencies and levels of government for the management, conservation, and sustainable utilization of wetlands. The plans will help China meet its obligations under the Ramsar Convention and help conserve important species of birds, animals, and plants as well as their habitats. The establishment of the demonstration sites would help work out effective methods and means to conserve and sustainably utilize wetlands, and provide essential information for planning and decision- making on the wetlands. The project will help train 300 to 400 managers for wetlands reserves in China. Text Browser Utilities: [Back, ACCA21 Home] For more information about ACCA21 contact: web@acca21.edu.cn Address: 109 Wanquanhe Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100089, People's Republic of China Telephone: +86-10-82636193, +86-10-82634400 Ext.2401 Fax: +86-10-82636192