(CN) Panda project to bear positive results

[Guest guest]

China Daily

http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2002-03-13/60642.html

(LIANG CHAO)

03/13/2002

 

XI'AN: The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) yesterday officially launched a

project intensifying the protection of giant pandas in the Qinling

Mountains - the bears' most northerly habitat.

WWF has pledged 1.15 million yuan (US$138,554) for the conservation, a

planned survey of the distribution of the wild species of giant pandas and

co-operation between different parties involved in the project.

 

It will not only bring more attention and support to the Qinling panda

population - the highest density of the bears in northern China - but seek

new co-operation with non-traditional conservation institutions.

 

James Harkness, WWF's chief representative responsible for China's

programme, said these included economic and social bodies in the region.

 

Harkness said the project will help provide experiences and lessons for

balancing economic development and the use of resources during China's

current " Go West " campaign.

 

The giant panda, the national treasure of China, is a symbol of the

environmental movement worldwide.

 

It represents all the major challenges facing wildlife conservation: habitat

loss, degradation and fragmentation; poaching; and environmental conflicts

caused by unsustainable economic development and conservation needs.

 

WWF is expected to co-operate with the traditional conservation agencies in

the three-year project to promote the creation of more panda reserves and

explore ways to link them to new forests being developed for ecological

reasons under China's natural forest protection programme.

 

One goal is to create an ecological corridor for giant pandas as a solution

for stopping the fragmentation of the animal's habitats and allowing the

species' natural genetic exchanges.

 

Meanwhile, the project will seek co-operation with non-traditional

conservation bodies, such as tourism enterprises, to reduce the negative

impacts of development on natural resources and to sustain the biodiversity

conservation in the Qinling Mountains.

 

" Conservation is a social cause which needs the participation of government

agencies, and economic and social groups, " Harkness said.

 

He added the participation of social forces has been increasingly active in

recent years.