Resources Management within Nature Reserves in China

This paper summarized existing national administrative system for nature reserves and described relevant legislation and concrete stipulations on resources management within nature reserves in China. It also concluded the present status for resources' utilization within reserves and their benefits, and revealed the problems arisen from the resources' development. Furthermore, based on the analyses for existing problems, the paper presented a series of suggestions for management of the resources' utilization within nature reserves in China by revising legislation, reforming economic policies, establishing management mechanism, environmental monitoring system and technical guidelines and standards, and allocating reasonably the benefits produced from resources' development, among the stockholders

Safety and Socio-Economic Issues Raised by Modern Biotechnology

Modern new biotechnology has the potential to provide major economic and other benefits, but at the same time it poses potential hazards for human health, the environment, the ‘natural’ biological order and can have adverse socio-economic consequences. The application of such technology frequently violates traditional ethical, moral and religious values. This paper after outlining possible benefits of modern new biotechnologies, discusses the type of biosafety risks which they pose, their possible adverse consequences for the sustainability of biodiversity and agriculture and their potential impacts on socioeconomic welfare and traditional cultures. Particular concern is expressed about the possible consequences of such technologies for developing countries and the practice in some developed countries of issuing patents conferring very broad rights over the use of genetically engineered material. Because these rights are so broad in some cases they have the potential to establish powerful multinational monopolies in the hands of private companies. Global debate about these issues suggest that more emphasis should be given globally to the socio-economic consequences of such technology than in the past. The need for this is highlighted by the North-South divide. Developing countries lag considerably in this new technological field, are placed in a dependant position and have weak institutional structures to control the application of such technologybiotechnology, socio-economic policy, genetic engineering, biodiversity, biosafety, patents, Environmental Economics and Policy, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Effects of the Cartagena biosafety protocol on trade in GMOs, WTO implications and consequences for China

The UN Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety adopted in Montreal, Jan.29, 2000 and opened for signature in Nairobi, May 15-26, 2000 will exert a profound impact on international trade in genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their products. In this paper, the background to the drafting and negotiation of the Protocol is oultlined, and potential effects of various articles of the Protocol on international trade in GMOs are analyzed. Based on the present status of importing of GMOs and domestic research and development of biotechnology in China, likely trends in imports of foreign GMOs and related products after China accedes to WTO is explored. Also, China's strategies and countermeasures to control and regulate imports of GMOs in line with implementation ofthe Protocol are discusse

Valuing ecological functions of biodiversity in Changbaishan mountain biosphere reserve in northeast China.

Conservation of biodiversity can generate considerable indirect economic value and this is being increasingly recognized in China. For a forest ecosystem type of a nature reserve, the most important of its values are its ecological functions which provide human beings and other living things with beneficial environmental services. These services include water conservancy, soil protection, CO2 fixation and O2 release, nutrient cycling, pollutant decomposition, and disease and pest control. Based on a case study in Changbaishan Mountain Biosphere Reserve in Northeast China, this paper provides a monetary valuation of these services by using, opportunity cost and alternative cost methods. Using such an approach, this reserve is valued at 510.11 million yuan (USD61.68 mill.) per year, 10 times higher than the opportunity cost (51.78 mill. yuan/ha.a) for regular timber production. While China has heeded UNEP's call for economic evaluation of ecological functions, the assessment techniques used need to be improved in China and in the West for reasons mentioned

Research on bio-cultural diversity in ethnic areas –based on the investigation of bio-culture in Jinxiu, Guangxi

the biological culture as a new cultural concept and form of expression, attaches great importance to the internal relation between culture and biological, enrich and perfect the traditional ecological culture elements such as concept, value orientation, and inspire modest grab in natural resources, respect nature, respect nature of cultural behavior, realize the harmonious development of man and nature. As stewards of local natural ecosystems, ethnic minorities maintain biological diversity through their traditional cultures, such as living customs, religious beliefs and customary laws. As the material basis for its survival, biodiversity also enriches and develops cultural diversity. Biodiversity and cultural diversity interact and develop synergistically. Biological research ethnic areas - the formation and development of cultural diversity, biological and cultural interaction relations, the external factors of biological, cultural diversity and its future development trend of change, the influence of the understanding of the biological culture connotation and biological - synergy to protect cultural diversity has important theoretical and practical significance

Biodiversity and the tourism value of Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve, China: a Travel Cost Approach

The recreational value of an outdoor site is reflected in a visitor's willingness to pay for the visit. This can sometimes be estimated using the Travel Cost Methodology (TCM) as the consumer surplus under the site demand curve. Based on a case study of Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve (CMBR) located in Northeast China, this paper focuses on the recreational values of tourism using the TCM and speculates on the extent to which this value depends on the biodiversity present in CMBR

Safety and socio-economic issues raised by modern biotechnology.

Modern new biotechnology has the potential to provide major economic and other benefits, but at the same time it poses potential hazards for human health, the environment, the ‘natural’ biological order and can have adverse socio-economic consequences. The application of such technology frequently violates traditional ethical, moral and religious values. This paper after outlining possible benefits of modern new biotechnologies, discusses the type of biosafety risks which they pose, their possible adverse consequences for the sustainability of biodiversity and agriculture and their potential impacts on socioeconomic welfare and traditional cultures. Particular concern is expressed about the possible consequences of such technologies for developing countries and the practice in some developed countries of issuing patents conferring very broad rights over the use of genetically engineered material. Because these rights are so broad in some cases they have the potential to establish powerful multinational monopolies in the hands of private companies. Global debate about these issues suggest that more emphasis should be given globally to the socio-economic consequences of such technology than in the past. The need for this is highlighted by the North-South divide. Developing countries lag considerably in this new technological field, are placed in a dependant position and have weak institutional structures to control the application of such technology

Patterns and structures of land use change in the three rivers headwaters region of China

10.1371/journal.pone.0119121PLoS ONE103e011912

Biodiversity and a Travel Cost Evaluation of Tourism: The Case of Changbaishan Mountain Biosphere Reserve, China

Recreational value of an outdoor site is reflected in a visitor's willingness to pay for the visit. This can sometimes be estimated using the Travel Cost Methodology (TCM) as the consumer's surplus under the site demand curve. Based on a case study of in Changbaishan Mountain Biosphere Reserve (CMBR) located in Northeast China, this paper focuses on the recreational values of tourism using the Travel Cost Method and speculates about the extent to which this valuer depends on the biodiversity present in China

Effects of Extreme Climate Events on Tea (Camellia sinensis) Functional Quality Validate Indigenous Farmer Knowledge and Sensory Preferences in Tropical China

Climate change is impacting agro-ecosystems, crops, and farmer livelihoods in communities worldwide. While it is well understood that more frequent and intense climate events in many areas are resulting in a decline in crop yields, the impact on crop quality is less acknowledged, yet it is critical for food systems that benefit both farmers and consumers through high-quality products. This study examines tea (Camellia sinensis; Theaceae), the world’s most widely consumed beverage after water, as a study system to measure effects of seasonal precipitation variability on crop functional quality and associated farmer knowledge, preferences, and livelihoods. Sampling was conducted in a major tea producing area of China during an extreme drought through the onset of the East Asian Monsoon in order to capture effects of extreme climate events that are likely to become more frequent with climate change. Compared to the spring drought, tea growth during the monsoon period was up to 50% higher. Concurrently, concentrations of catechin and methylxanthine secondary metabolites, major compounds that determine tea functional quality, were up to 50% lower during the monsoon while total phenolic concentrations and antioxidant activity increased. The inverse relationship between tea growth and concentrations of individual secondary metabolites suggests a dilution effect of precipitation on tea quality. The decrease in concentrations of tea secondary metabolites was accompanied by reduced farmer preference on the basis of sensory characteristics as well as a decline of up to 50% in household income from tea sales. Farmer surveys indicate a high degree of agreement regarding climate patterns and the effects of precipitation on tea yields and quality. Extrapolating findings from this seasonal study to long-term climate scenario projections suggests that farmers and consumers face variable implications with forecasted precipitation scenarios and calls for research on management practices to facilitate climate adaptation for sustainable crop production