Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – Pei Xiaofei, spokesperson for the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, stated at a press conference in Beijing on the 28th that the on-site assessment of the ecological and environmental protection effectiveness of national-level nature reserves across the country has been completed. Overall, the stability and sustainability of the ecosystems in the Yangtze River Economic Belt's protected areas have been effectively improved.
To effectively fulfill its responsibilities for ecological and environmental supervision of nature reserves and to gain a timely and comprehensive understanding of the ecological and environmental protection effectiveness of national-level nature reserves nationwide, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment conducted an assessment of the protection effectiveness of national-level nature reserves from 2022 to 2025. Currently, the on-site assessment work has been completed.
"Recently, we will provide feedback to local authorities on the assessment results of 145 national-level nature reserves in 11 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) along the Yangtze River Economic Belt," said Pei Xiaofei. The assessment results show that the excellent rate of protected areas reached 98.62%, with 17 reserves showing "significant improvement," 123 showing "improvement," and 5 showing "stability," while no reserves were classified as "deteriorating." The Yangtze River Economic Belt's policy of "jointly protecting the environment and refraining from large-scale development" has achieved positive results.
Pei Xiaofei stated that overall, the stability and sustainability of the ecosystems in the Yangtze River Economic Belt protected areas have been effectively improved. Specifically, over 90% of the protected areas saw an increase in the population of their main protected species; 82% of the protected areas experienced an expansion in the distribution range of their main protected objects; over 80% of the protected areas saw an increase in aboveground biomass and carbon sequestration; over 70% of the protected areas saw an increase in natural forest coverage; and over 60% of the protected areas involving wetlands saw an increase in the proportion of natural wetland area.
According to reports, the number of Sichuan golden monkeys in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve in Hubei Province increased from 1,471 to 1,618; and the populations of Yangtze sturgeon and Chinese paddlefish, among others, increased significantly in the rare and endemic fish protection areas in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
Pei Xiaofei revealed that the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will, as soon as possible, analyze and summarize the ecological and environmental protection achievements of key river basins, regions, and national nature reserves, and will successively release outstanding typical cases. Working with relevant departments and local governments, the Ministry will further promote the construction and management of nature reserves in a manner tailored to local conditions. (End)
