BEIJING: Chinese lawmakers have adopted a new law on national parks, the country’s first such legislation, to preserve the authenticity and integrity of natural ecosystems through a stringent legal framework. After a yearlong legislative process involving three reviews, the 63-article law was passed on Friday when the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, closed its latest session. The law will take effect on Jan 1.
China announced the establishment of the first batch of five national parks in 2021, spanning a protected area of 230,000 square kilometers and covering nearly 30 percent of the country’s key protected terrestrial wild fauna and flora species.
National parks serve as the cornerstone of China’s natural protected area system and are included within the scope of national ecological conservation red lines, necessitating the implementation of the strictest protection measures, according to a statement provided by the NPC Standing Committee’s Legislative Affairs Commission.
“Formulating such a law is crucial for consolidating the country’s experiences in the establishment, conservation and management of national parks, providing a robust legal framework to support the continued high-quality development of national parks, and ensuring that these natural areas are preserved and managed effectively for future generations,” the statement said.
Under the law, China will adhere to an integrated approach to conserving mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, with emphasis on holistic protection, systematic restoration and comprehensive governance of the national parks. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
