Sector: Environment
Region: North and Central Asia
Funded by:
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Government of the People’s Republic of China
Total Value: Canadian contribution: C$5.7 million; Chinese contribution: C$3.65 million (equiv.) in cash from national, regional, league and banner sources
Partners and Counterparts:
In China: Nationally the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA). At the IMAR level, the principal implementing partner was the Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB).
People’s Republic of China, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR), China-Canada Biodiversity Protection and Community Development Project: March 2001–November 2006
Purpose
To increase the capacity of Chinese government institutions and agencies for protected area management, biodiversity protection and promotion of sustainable community development, especially among ethnic minorities.
Challenge
The first nature reserves in China were established in the early 1950s but after 1985 the number grew from 333 to 1,275. Particular impetus for the formation of new nature reserves (NRs) and for strengthening of regulations under which the entire system was managed was provided in 1994 by the State Council’s adoption of the Regulations on NRs.
Through this, the Chinese government made great strides in identifying significant areas that form the basis for protecting landscapes and biodiversity. There were, however, many hurdles to effective biodiversity protection including:
- limited models of successful management
- conflicting interests and sets of priorities in the use of natural areas
- poorly trained staff
- a shortage of funding
There were also acute conflicts between NR management and the communities in these protected areas. This was further exacerbated by managers drawn from a variety of backgrounds ranging from professional biologists to professional cadres, with minimal biological training.
Approach
A project implementation plan was approved in November 2003 founded on a results-based management framework.
Project Description
The project involved seven major activity areas:
- Improving the management capacity in the NRs through (1) developing basic staff managerial skills (participatory planning and community involvement; (2) improving computer skills for data management, mapping and communication; and (3) preparing and applying NR management plans
- Strengthening communication and information collection and sharing skills by applying management information systems (MIS), geographical information systems (GIS), and website development and maintenance skills
- Creating sustainable community economic development models through dialogue with resident communities and improved understanding of how they relate to and interact with the NRs
- Providing training in improved rangeland and livestock management approaches to make better use of the grassland resources and protect biodiversity and training in small enterprise management and handicraft to promote alternative income opportunities
- Developing a model of sustainable ecotourism for Dalinor NR and capacity development for ecotourism
- Developing the Dalinor Environmental Education Centre, a unique Chinese facility expected to make a lasting contribution to people’s understanding of the area’s biodiversity
- Establishing better cooperation and collaboration with national and international conservation institutions including: the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), MAB China, World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Chinese NGO FON and local and national universities
Results
The contribution of the foregoing activities toward achieving of the desired impact (Enhanced Biodiversity Protection and Reduced Poverty on the NRs in IMAR) included the enhanced ability of three key nature reserves (Dalai Lake, West Erdos and to a lesser extent Dalinor) to:
- monitor ecological conditions through direct observation
- apply GIS approaches
- plan and achieve biodiversity protection
- involve NR staff in planning activities rather than hiring outside consultants
- involve (rather than confront) resident communities through rangeland and livestock management, small enterprise development and ecotourism developments
Project Director
Alex Schumacher
alexs@agriteam.ca