5-7 Ecology and Environment Monitoring and Research Network in China Project Scope and Relationship to China's Agenda 21 The establishment of this network will improve our understanding of ecology, resource and environmental change, and provide valuable information for decision-making institutions and action groups. This project is in accordance with programme 14A of China's Agenda 21 , and related to 2A, 6D, 6E, llA, 11C, 14D, 14E, 14H, 15A, 16B, 16C, 18D, & 20E. 1 . Background China is a country facing a severe shortage of resources per capita. The lack of resources has been aggravated by the need to meet the demands for economic development. As it is a vast country, it has not been possible in the past to establish a network to dynamically monitor the whole country's resources and environment. This lack of systematic information on the interplay of humans, resources and the environment, and of scientific knowledge on the history and status of these relationships has hampered decision making. Since the 1980's, many countries, international organizations and international programs have established resources, ecology, and environment monitoring and research networks. These include The Long-Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN) in USA, Environmental Change Network (ECN) in the U.K, the Worldwide Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS) established by the UNEP, and the Global Terrestrial Observation System (GTOS) being prepared by UNESCO and ICSU . Since the 1950's, over 100 field ecological research stations have been established by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in regions of various major ecological types. Furthermore, they also provide demonstrations on management and restoration of the ecosystems. From 1988, a Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) has been established by CAS with 29 stations selected concerning research on agricultural, forest, grass land, and water body (lakes and marine) ecosystems. Moreover, four disciplinary research sub-centres of biology, soil sciences hydrology and meteorology, and a synthesis center have been established. Between 1993 and 1998, a great improvement in the research infrastructure and instrumentation at each of the participated institutions of the network can be expected. Many researchers and technical staff in prioritized research areas will be trained by using national funding and a World Bank loan. Extensive cooperation between CERN and other related national and international networks has been successfully carried out and some international support gained. CERN will be one of the solid foundations for the establishment of the ecology and environment network in China. The GIS for China's east and west regions, to be completed through an integrated survey of the whole country's resources and environment status using remote sensing information obtained in 1990 and 1991 will also provide a rich and reliable information input for this network. However, the number of stations at present is inadequate while the layout of the stations is not satisfactory. For example, there are no stations at some ecologically important areas. Many sites are working with simple and crude equipment. Most stations require advanced instrumentation and facilities. Many stations have difficulties in conducting regular observation and research task due to funding shortages. 2. Objectives Long-term Objectives The general goal of the project is to establish a national network of ground observation sites, supplemented by remote sensing information and environmental dynamic monitoring networks, to monitor and research ecosystem structures and functions of major ecotype regions in China. The purpose of the network monitoring is to provide local and national government with scientifically sound information for making decisions on resource utilization and environment restoration. This network will also make an active contribution to the global resource and environment information Immediate Objective To provide institutions and the general public with systematic and scientific data and information about the status of resources, the environment and ecosystem changes in China. The network will issue bulletins on the status of environments and ecosystems. To provide critical economic development regions and key construction project areas with comprehensive evaluation of sustainable development and relevant strategies. To conduct observation and research on ecosystem energy fiows, material flows and layout pattern changes in order to explore the effects on ecosystem structures, functions and biodiversity caused by human activities and climate change and the ecosystem responses upon these changes. By cooperating with remote sensing and GIS,this network will provide monitoring, prediction and warning on national and local ecology and environments. To create models of optimal ecosystem management and demonstrations of living environment improvement in some areas. 3. Activities 3.1 Formulation of observation standardization and normalization A system of variables for observing ecosystems of different types and regions will be designed and decided as the measurement system for the observation of resource and environment in China. Standardization and coding system based on the above measurement variables. Operational regulations for field observation procedures to ensure usability and shareability of data from different sites. This activity will be organized by CAS and implemented in cooperation with other Ministries. The duration of this activity will be 2 years. 3.2 Establishment of ground observation network About 50 observation stations of various types will be established. Based on the CERN, this network will provide another 25 stations chosen from the best stations already established by CAS in the typical agriculture, forest, grassland, waterbody, desert, wet land, glacier and mud flood ecosystems augmented by those established by other ministries to enlarge and improve the network. Regional and national observation data gathering and analysis centres will be established. This activity will be implemented by CAS and other Ministries in 5 years. 3.3 Remote Sensing Dynamic Monitoring System This activity will focus on the establishment of the Image data processing systems on multi- platforms and Global positioning systems (GPSs). The remote sensing monitoring system will include aerial remote sensing monitoring for areas ranging from ten thousands to hundreds thousand square kilometers,and regional and national meteorological satellites. This activity will be organized by CAS and National Remote sensing Center, and implemented in five years. 3.4 Development of monitoring data management and analysis support systems To set up National ecology and environment databases, and to establish the decision support and expert systems for data analysis and application, and to link with the National common data communication network. This activity will be sponsored by CAS and the State Commission of Science and Technology ,and implemented in 5 years. 3.5 Demonstrations Creating experimental and demonstration areas to show management of ecosystem, and restoration and reconstruction of degraded ecosystems at selected critical areas. This activity will be sponsored by CAS and the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Forestry, and in 5 years. 3.6 Information Systems for regional resources and environment. Practical information, publication, and query service systems wiJI be established at local and national levels by CAS and the State Commission of Sciences during 1996 to 2000. 3.7 Training Training of young scientists and technicians is considered as an important task of this cross- century project. The number of people who will be trained and their fields will be as follows: Ecology, environment and related areas, 100 trainees; Data management,100 trainees; High level administration, 50 trainees; Other needed areas,50 trainees. The implementation of these training activities will be organized by CAS and will be carried out in 5 years. 4. Input To implement this project, 20 million US dollars will be required in addition to money already invested. This will be for man power and equipment from CAS and other government departments. Of the total funding, 5 million US dollars from interational assistance is expected while the other 15 million will be from Chinese domestic input. Budget(in million US dollars) Items Chinese Inputs External Grant Total Foreign Expert Consultation -- 0.50 0.50 Instrumentation 8.50 3.50 12.00 Infrastructure 4.00 1.00 5.00 Training 2.50 -- 2.50 Total 15.00 5.00 20.00 5. Benefits The project will provide state government and industrial administrative departments with important information about resources, ecology and environmmental changes to assist policy-making organizations to take appropriate actions for the sustainable development of Chinese economy. It can further assist government with timely processed data-sets and analytical reports for their important decisions on territorial planning and designing of grand regions, rainage areas, and the impact of large environmental engineering projects. The implementation and opration of this network can also provide international research programs and institutions with access to quality information as a contribution to glolbal resource and environment solutions. The research efforts in this project will facilitate the knowledge on natural and man-participated evolution of resources and environments, and understanding of the develolpment and evolution patterns of the earth system. And finally this project will promote the development of ecological sciences 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