Citation Detail: John MacKinnon, WANG Sung. XIE Yan and Andrew Smith. 1996. Second Annual Report of the BWG/CCICED. in: Conserving China's Biodiversity. China Environmental Science Press. Beijing. 18-30p.

 

BIODIVERSITY WORKING GROUP
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT TO CCICED

August 1994, beijing

бяBACKGROUNDбяACTIVITIES OF THE BWG IN THE SECOND YEAR 1993-4бяOther Activities of the BWG бяPARTICULAR OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP

BACKGROUND

This working group was formed at the end of 1992 under the joint chairmanship of Prof. Wang Sung of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dr. John MacKinnon, Director of the Asian Bureau for Conservation. Membership of the group is composed of an additional 4 international experts and 4 national experts as follows:

Dr. Eduardo Fuentes
Dr. Mark Collins
Dr. Charles Barber
Dr. Steven Edwards
 UNDP GEF Officer
Director of WCMC
World Resources Institute
IUCN, Director of Sustainable Use of Wildlife Programme.
Prof. Chen Yiyu
Prof. Chen Lingzhi
Mr. Qing Jianhua
Prof. Wang Xiangpu		 Institute of Hydrology, CAS
Institute of Botany, CAS
Ministry of Forestry
Institute of Botany, CAS

The terms of reference of the working group as approved by CCICED are stated as:

to bring together the relevant government agencies and scientific institutions in China, and appropriate governmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with the conservation and sustainable use of living resources and biological diversity;

to analyse and review information of China's biological diversity, including information on its use, and to propose survey and research to remedy deficiencies in this knowledge base;

to propose strategies and actions for the conservation and sustainable use of the nation's biological diversity and living natural resources.

Specifically it was felt that the BWG could offer advise or help undertake studies in the following topics.

During the First (part) year of operation the working group undertook a very broad overview of the entire state of biodiversity in China. The group reported to the 2nd meeting of the CCICED council that biodiversity was enormously important to the welfare of China, in the order of $100 billion in services per annum, but that these massive benefits were dangerously threatened as a result of human pressures, wasteful practices and lack of controls. Five major recommendations were put forward:

  1. Lead the World in implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity.
  2. Establish a National Biodiversity Authority
  3. Launch Nation-wide Public Awareness Campaign
  4. Establish National Biodiversity Information Service
  5. Increase Resources devoted to Biodiversity Conservation

As a detailed review of in-situ conservation in China had been recently completed by WWF it was decided that the priority for the BWG in its second year should be to investigate the state of wildlife utilisation in China, the state of ex situ conservation in China and to start to develop a better database and data management system so that the country could start to monitor its biodiversity resources and their utilisation. In addition at the special request of State Councilor Song Jian the group tried to organise an international workshop on the issue of controlling wildlife trade in East Asia.

ACTIVITIES OF THE BWG IN THE SECOND YEAR 1993-4

I. Meetings

A total of four meetings of BWG were held during the year.

The second meeting of BWG was held at the Xilihu Wildlife Safari Park in Shenzhen, 14-15th August, 1993. The two co-chairman - Prof. Wang Sung and Dr. John MacKinnon met to discuss a number of topics and make arrangements for the group's work programme. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Qing Jian Hua, an invited specialist Mr. Guo Yinfeng of ESSC and Ms. Lu Hefen, assistant to Dr. MacKinnon.

The following items were dealt with:

The third meeting of BWG was held in Haikou, Hainan from 2-9 Dec. 1993.

The meeting was attended by the two chairmen, Dr. Donald Gordon of WCMC, three of the Chinese group members, local officials and experts on Hainan conservation and the contractees for the commissioned studies of the working group.

Topics covered during the meeting were:

A field outing was arranged to several of the island's nature reserves and a report on the effectiveness of the protected area system was prepared and submitted to local authorities.

Hainan was selected as a case study because it is a tropical biodiversity rich region which has already faced very extensive loss of forest habitat and is now facing the most rapid economic development in the country.

The fourth meeting of BWG was held in Buenos Aires at the time of the IUCN General Assembly, 23 January 1994.

The meeting was attended by the two chairmen, Prof. Wang Xiangpu,
Dr. Mark Collins, Dr. Steve Edwards.The two chairmen held separate discussions with Dr. Eduardo Fuentes and Dr. Kenton Miller (standing in for Dr. Charles Barber).The meeting was addressed by Vice-minister of Forestry Mr. Maocheng Shen. The meeting was thrown open to other attendees of the IUCN General Assembly and attracted several international conservationists with special interests in China and delegates from Chinese province of Taiwan.

The following topics were dealt with:

The consensus of the meeting was that the group did serve a unique and valuable function and that it was needed for some longer term studies; that the group would benefit from an expanded membership and there were many offers to join the group and that the group would need to secure additional funding to that possible through CCICED. Several possible sources for funding were discussed. The group offered to act as an international window for IUCN and other conservation agencies to find suitable partners for collaborative work in China.

The fifth meeting of BWG was held in Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang Province from 15-23 August 1994.

The meeting was attended by the two chairmen, Dr. Charles Barber, Dr. Hank Jenkins, Chairman of CITES Animals Committee (as a stand in for Dr. Edwards), Mr. Qing Jianhua, Prof. Chen Yiyu plus two of the BWG special study investigators and several additional local officials and experts.

The following topics were dealt with:

II. Studies Undertaken by BWG (1993-4)

As requested by the working group a sum of $10,000 was received from CCICED, partly as a result of a grant from the Ford Foundation to support the activities of the group. These funds were allocated to cover the operation of 4 studies as follows:-

  1. Michael Lau of Hong Kong University was commissioned to coordinate a study of wildlife trade in S. China focusing on wildlife markets in Macao, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Chinese students from the Guangzhou Department of Entomology were recruited to visit markets at regular intervals and record what species were for sale. Several visits are made each month for a one year period to see the seasonal variation of available species for sale and document the rate of turnover of stock in the markets. The data are being analysed to show which species are most traded, what levels of trade exist in endangered species and from what radius wildlife is drawn into this trade. The study is nearing completion and two preliminary reports of high quality have been received by the chairmen.
  2. A second study is being undertaken by Prof. Li Dianmo of the Institute of Zoology, CAS to prepare an analysis of Wildlife Trade in China. Due to the enormous size of China it was decided to focus the study on one case province. Guangxi was selected for study because it is a biodiversity rich region with a strong tradition of wildlife utilisation for both food and medicines and was bordering a typical SE Asian neighbour, Vietnam, with whom a considerable border trade in wildlife exists. This study has been completed and the preliminary results presented to the 5th meeting of the BWG. The chairmen are very happy with the quality of this report and the significance of its findings.
  3. A contract was offered to Prof. Xu Zaifu, Director of the Menglun Botanical Garden in Xishuangbanna and Chairman of the China Botanical Gardens Association to complete a report and draft guidelines for a strategy on ex situ conservation of plant resources and the role of botanic gardens in China. The study is completed and is awaited eagerly by the chairmen.
  4. A contract was awarded to Prof. Wang Zongyi of the Beijing Milu Ecology Centre to complete a similar report on ex-situ conservation of animals in China and the condition of Chinese zoos and breeding centres. This study involves the use of questionnaires to get information on the conditions of zoos, their collections, acquisitions, breeding success and other details. The study also involves inspection of a sample of zoos and breeding farms. During the BWG's meetings several other breeding projects and zoos have also been visited. This study is still ongoing but a presentation of preliminary findings was made to the 5th meeting of the BWG.

Other Activities of the BWG

I. Bear farming

The issue of bear farming in China has aroused considerable international media attention and drawn adverse comment from animal rights groups. Councilor Song Jian has taken a personal interest in the issue and the BWG felt it appropriate to look into the situation and give some advise and comments.

This issue was discussed at some length at the 2nd meeting of the BWG in Shenzhen and was an item of discussion and field visit to a bear farm during the 5th meeting of the BWG in Mudanjiang.

Briefly, China needs bear gall for the production of 80 types of traditional medicine. However, at the beginning, the taking of wild bears for trade and rearing was out of control and caused loss of thousands of bears from the wild. From 1984 China started to set up bear farms using methods learned from DPR of Korea to obtain gall from live bears. It was reported that one farmed bear can produce the same amount of gall every year as killing 60 bears. (i.e. in an average 5 year production life a farmed bear spares the killing of 600 wild bears). It was also reported that a total of 49 farms have been registered for the production of gall powder. In addition to the registered operations there are numerous small, privately owned facilities holding bears which are not licensed or controlled by government. It has been estimated that a total of 10,000 bears are currently held in captivity throughout China.

Since 1986 Black bear has been protected in China. Killing of bears and capture for farms is now under the control of the Wildlife Protection Law, commercial export of all bear parts is prohibited under CITES. The bear population in the wild appears to be recovering in recent years partly due to banning the export of bile powder but hard data to demonstrate this are still lacking. Funds have been assigned by MOF for two scientists to lead a full investigation on this point.

The international issue is not so much a question of conservation effectiveness or pragmatism as a moral issue of cruelty and animal rights. Many bears are confined in tiny cages and kept in poor conditions. MOF is therefore issuing new regulations and standards that must be met otherwise farms will be closed down. Methods have now been developed for painless collection of gall and these will be obligatory. Efforts are being made to develop a synthetic production line for bear gall which will eliminate the need for farms. Medicinal equivalents or alternatives will also be sought.

Other measures taken in recent years include the confiscation of illegally caught young bears to rehabilitation centres set up in Guangdong and confiscation and prosecution resulting from capture of shipments of 2,700 kg of bear paws in Liaoning province.

The BWG still await examination of more complete data on the issue but would meanwhile advise MOF to prepare an international response to the current wave of criticism to show a fairer account of the situation.

Recommendations:

The Working Group recommended that:

  1. a national inventory of all facilities (registered and unregistered) currently holding bears in China be undertaken, and that the standard of management and husbandry practised for the captive maintenance of bears and the production of gall be evaluated; and
  2. the Working Group be responsible for reviewing the results of the national survey and evaluation in order to recommend to Council any necessary corrective action.

II. Development of Biodiversity metadatabase for China

This was agreed in the annual meeting of the working group as a high priority issue. Dr. Donald Gordon of WCMC visited China in Sept. to develop the details of this project with Prof. Li Dianmo. A project proposal for $120,000 for this work was duly prepared and submitted to the Darwin Initiative. Unfortunately the proposal was turned down. The BWG still believe that this is a priority project and it corresponds precisely with project 9 as identified in the recently launched Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan for China prepared under the GEF.A project of the World Bank. The project is being expanded to cover the initial development of a metadatabase and then to progress into a second phase of developing a coordinated network of databases across the country to monitor distribution and abundance of native species, particularly those being utilised and also monitoring levels of use in markets, shops, restaurants, medical factories etc. The revised document will be submitted to ODA (British bilateral aid).

III. Review of in situ conservation on Hainan

A third extra study that was undertaken by the BWG during the year was a review of in situ conservation on Hainan. Hainan is a distinctive tropical island of high biodiversity importance but facing enormous pressures from extra rapid economic development as a special economic zone. Although a total of 78 nature reserves are established, most are very small and of limited value whilst the few large ecosystem reserves face continuing pressure from hunting, encroachment and lack of funding. It is decided that a provincial review of the effectiveness of this reserve system would be valuable and could serve as a model for similar reviews of other provinces in the future. The 3rd meeting of BWG was deliberately held on Hainan island so that the participants could make a field survey of reserve conditions. By splitting the participants into two teams and with several of the participants having previously visited a number of Hainan reserves a sample of more than 12 reserves could be seen at first hand. A report of the groups findings was prepared pointing to the fact that most of the listed reserves were little more than scenic spots being exploited for tourism whilst the truly important forest reserves remain too small to protect the full range of biodiversity on the island and are given totally inadequate operational budgets. In view of the relative wealth of the province and its fast pace of development combined with its desire to promote an image of "development in harmony with the environment" a lot more can be done. The BWG proposed the establishment of a large biodiversity park including four of the main nature reserves combined with a biodiversity landscape of sustained forestry enterprises and ecotouristic development in addition to a generally much greater allocation of resources to reserve management in the province.

Among items that the BWG identified as important but which could not be undertaken due to shortage of funds is the problem of vegetation restoration. Most low altitude wildlife habitat in eastern China has been destroyed but patches studied in the 50's and 60's as well as small patches preserved around temples give good knowledge of the original vegetation. Some valuable experiments in restoring near-original vegetation have been made. This is in contrast to the massive scale sponsored reforestation of bare lands using monocultures of native pines, poplars and exotic eucalyptus. These plantations are usually disastrous for biodiversity and of inferior protection of soil, water and ecological function. It is proposed to commission Prof. Wang Xiangpu of the BWG to complete a review of the needs for vegetation restoration in China and the methods that should or should not be adopted. This item remains on the agenda for 1994-1995.

IV. East Asian Wildlife Trade Control Initiative

At the CCICED meeting in Hangzhou (May 1993), CCICED Chairman Song Jian requested the BWG to formulate a proposal for a meeting to consider issues and policies concerning the East Asian wildlife trade, with particular attention to China's role. Accordingly, BWG Co-Chair John MacKinnon, with the assistance of Council member Dr. Martin Holdgate, prepared a draft proposal immediately following the CCICED meeting. Since that time, the following steps have been taken:

At the August 1994 BWG meeting, the group reviewed the process of project preparation thus far, and discussed the preliminary findings of the BWG-commissioned wildlife trade studies. Members expressed concern over the apparently massive scale and increasing volume of the trade -- and the clear lack of controls on it. The BWG agreed that efforts to secure funding for and to hold the proposed meeting should be intensified.

A proposal was also discussed to expand the scope of BWG-sponsored work on the wildlife trade in the following manner:

The BWG agreed that Co-Chair Wang Sung and CITES Management Authority Executive Head Qing Jian Hua (a BWG member) should seek guidance and support from the Ministry of Forestry on this proposal. In particular, the Ministry will be asked to formally call for one or more meetings to be held (depending on their advice on the expanded proposal) as soon as practical. The possibility of the Ministry providing partial funding for this program would also be explored.

PARTICULAR OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP

I. Wildlife Trade Controls

Over the past year, the BWG directed considerable attention to the issue of trade in wildlife, and its impacts on biodiversity in China and neighbouring countries. Two preliminary studies were commissioned, one of them completed, the other well underway. From the results of these studies, and from secondary sources reviewed, the Working Group concluded that the high current level of wildlife trade -- particularly across international borders -- is a serious threat to the biodiversity of both China and neighbouring countries. The BWG therefore concluded that:

  1. further quantitative studies should be carried out;
  2. steps to develop stronger domestic policies should be taken;
  3. the capacity of relevant government authorities to control transborder trade in wildlife and domestic use of wildlife should be increased substantially and improved through effective training programs; and
  4. regional/bilateral trade protocols should be developed.

The foregoing activities should be taken concurrently, since the threats posed by unregulated and unsustainable trade are critical.

The second meeting of BWG commissioned Prof. Li Dianmo (CAS Institute of Zoology) to direct a study of the wildlife trade in Guangxi Province, with particular reference to the trade across the China/Vietnam border. Conducted over a period of two months (December 1993 and July 1994), the study has provided important quantitative data on the volume and composition of the trade in that border region. Guangxi was chosen because of its high biodiversity, its location on the Vietnam border, and its tradition of wildlife consumption for food and medicine. Data were collected from the records of state-owned wildlife import-export companies covering the period 1954-1993, from field observations at markets, restaurants and shops, and through observation of 3 Chinese customs posts on the border. Detailed results of this study will be made in a separate report to CCICED. The main conclusion of the report, however, are as follows:

The results of this study are confirmed by the preliminary findings of a second study commissioned by the BWG which examined wildlife markets in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, with special reference to Hong Kong/China trade linkages. The method used is species identification and volume monitoring carried out in seven markets, several times per month. Since tightening of regulations on wildlife consumption in restaurants in Hong Kong over the past several years, many Hong Kong residents travel to Shenzhen and Guangzhou to consume wildlife in specialized restaurants. Many species are also sold as pets (e.g. birds). Preliminary figures show a total of 274 bird species, 12 mammal species, 45 amphibians, 44 species of tortoises and turtles, and 94 other reptile species for sale -- a total of over 350 vertebrate species. Volume for individual species is also high in many cases. Hundreds of individuals of some duck species, for example, are available on any given day. Interestingly, species from as far away as Indonesia, Australia, and even South America were recorded. A full report will be delivered to CCICED by Nov. 1995.

Recommendations:

Based on these preliminary studies, the BWG recommends:

II. Captive Breeding and Conservation

There are numerous zoological gardens and captive breeding centres located throughout China. In addition there is a new trend of establishing "safari parks" and other wild animal exhibits, the sole purpose of which appears to be public amusement. Facilities at these establishments result in overcrowding and are rarely suitable for the well-being of animals on display and no attention is given to public education or wildlife conservation. No single national legislation or government agency is responsible for the overall administration and control of wild animals held in captivity in China. Numerous government agencies, depending on the nature and purpose of the establishment, may be responsible for controlling the activities of a particular operation. As a result there is little or no coordination of the policies and activities of wild animal captive breeding establishments China.

There does not appear to be any uniform recognition of which species are regarded as threatened or endangered wildlife. The role and contribution of captive breeding to in situ conservation of endangered species in China is poorly elaborated. There is no national policy on the circumstances under which threatened and endangered species are considered suitable candidates for reintroduction programs. Furthermore, there is a need to clarify the relationship of the terms "ex situ and in situ conservation", and determine which wildlife warrant consideration as priority species for ex situ conservation programs.

The potential contribution to conservation of endangered species able to be made by many zoos is severely constrained by their inability to use revenue obtained from entrance fees and associated support enterprises. Similarly the ex situ conservation activities of many zoos and breeding centres are constrained by lack of sufficient financial resources.The majority of zoos and captive breeding centres either lack or possess poorly structured public education programs on wildlife conservation. The lack of funding for conservation or educational activities forces many zoos to include noisy amusements, entertainment sidelines and other activities quite at odds with the idea of ex situ conservation or even basic animal welfare.

Recommendations

It is recommended that:

III. The Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan for China.

In May 1994 this plan was launched as a platform document to guide biodiversity conservation in China, being the combined inputs from seven different ministries under the coordination of NEPA with assistance of international experts provided under the World Bank GEF Biodiversity A project for China.

The BWG have had a preliminary look at this document. Whilst the plan contains many good ideas and principles and some interesting project profiles it is considered that it is not sufficiently detailed to be carried forward as an implementable plan of action. The question of lead authority that was raised as a primary issue in the report of BWG in its first report to the CCICED council remains unresolved and the level of collaboration envisaged in the listed project profiles appears impractical.

Whilst the document may be a good first step at elaborating a national plan for a biodiversity conservation programme, it clearly needs further refinement maybe through the development of dependent sectoral sub-plans or the development of more detailed provincial action plans.

It was decided that BWG should undertake a review of the current plan, comment on its strengths and weaknesses and advise the CCICED Council and the relevant government agencies of how to proceed towards implementation.

WORKPLAN OF BWG FOR 1994-5 PERIOD

The following activities are planned for the next 12 month period. Additional funding will need to be secured to undertake these activities.

  1. Help with preparation of East Asian Wildlife Trade Meeting
  2. Review Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan
  3. Promote development of Biodiversity database
  4. Extend studies of wildlife trade
  5. Develop national strategy for captive breeding and ex situ conservation
  6. Undertake habitat restoration studies
  7. repare study of freshwater conservation needs for China.
  8. Continue to examine local in situ conservation conditions as the group meets in different regions of China.