Page 2 - Greening of the PRC's Investment in Conservation
P. 2
ence. Gains varied significantly by
region. Certain regions
designated as important for
securing ecosystem services
experienced striking
improvements, while other
areas experienced decreases
across evaluated measures.
To illustrate this point,
though they made up only
37% of China’s area, priority
conservation areas realized
83% of the total gains in
carbon sequestration, 78% in
soil retention, 59% in
sandstorm prevention, 80%
in water retention, and
encompassed 56% of its
natural habitats.
In particular, three priority areas that had been
degraded because of unsustainable human activity
have realized marked improvements as a result of
conservation policies. Sanjiangyuan is the “water
tower” of Asia, containing the headwaters of the
Yellow, Yangtze, and Mekong Rivers. The Loess
Plateau is the most sensitive area to soil erosion in
the world. The Taihang Mountains are the ecological
shelter for northern China, including Beijing, Tianjin,
and the North China Plain.
Conservation supporting economic development.
China is carrying out among the world’s most
ambitious conservation regimens ever implemented.
A first-of-its-kind analysis has shown that China’s
efforts to conserve ecosystem services have been
mostly effective, particularly in areas where these
resources are most valuable for human welfare.
While several key challenges, including securing
water and air quality, lie outside the scope of the
current analysis, the gains accrued through China’s
conservation efforts suggest that conservation does
not hinder, and indeed can fundamentally support
the development process.
region. Certain regions
designated as important for
securing ecosystem services
experienced striking
improvements, while other
areas experienced decreases
across evaluated measures.
To illustrate this point,
though they made up only
37% of China’s area, priority
conservation areas realized
83% of the total gains in
carbon sequestration, 78% in
soil retention, 59% in
sandstorm prevention, 80%
in water retention, and
encompassed 56% of its
natural habitats.
In particular, three priority areas that had been
degraded because of unsustainable human activity
have realized marked improvements as a result of
conservation policies. Sanjiangyuan is the “water
tower” of Asia, containing the headwaters of the
Yellow, Yangtze, and Mekong Rivers. The Loess
Plateau is the most sensitive area to soil erosion in
the world. The Taihang Mountains are the ecological
shelter for northern China, including Beijing, Tianjin,
and the North China Plain.
Conservation supporting economic development.
China is carrying out among the world’s most
ambitious conservation regimens ever implemented.
A first-of-its-kind analysis has shown that China’s
efforts to conserve ecosystem services have been
mostly effective, particularly in areas where these
resources are most valuable for human welfare.
While several key challenges, including securing
water and air quality, lie outside the scope of the
current analysis, the gains accrued through China’s
conservation efforts suggest that conservation does
not hinder, and indeed can fundamentally support
the development process.
