China to establish first batch of national parks in 2021: forestry authority
林业部门:中国将于2021年建立第一批国家公园
The first batch of national parks will be officially established this year, as the pilot work has achieved initial results since its launch in 2015, the National Park Administration said on Saturday which also marks the World Environment Day.
China launched a pilot national park system in 2015. Currently, there are ten pilot national parks, including the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, the Qilian Mountain National Park and Sanjiangyuan National Park, covering a total area of over 220,000 square kilometers across 12 provinces and regions, accounting for about 2.3 percent of China’s land area.
From July to December, 2020, an evaluation group made up of 26 experts from 16 institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, and Beijing Normal University, carried out an evaluation of the natural resources and pilot work situation.
“Through the evaluation, it should be said that a batch of good experiences and results have been achieved through the pilot system,” said Tang Xiaoping, the deputy dean of the Planning and Design Institute of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, as quoted in an interview with China Central Television on Saturday.
“After the completion of the first batch of national parks, one of the main tasks will be to find ways to realize the value of these ecological products, try to form some ecological models and to promote the harmonious coexistence between man and nature, Tang noted.
