Appendix A4 Mid-term Evaluation Report (February 2003) Introduction
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Appendix B2 Descriptions of project sitesFour sites representing a wide range of wetland ecosystems have been selected as pilot areas, and the lessons learned at those sites will be used at the provincial level (in Heilongjiang) and at the national level to build capacity and feed into policy and legislation review. 1. Yancheng coastal marshes The Yancheng coastal marshes stretch for nearly 600km along the coast of Jiangsu province, northeast of Nanjing and originally consisted of intertidal mudflats, creeks, salt marshes and reed beds. Now much of the natural habitat has been enclosed by sea dykes and converted to other uses such as salt pans and aquaculture ponds, but the mudflats are still accreting as a result of the sediment carried down by the Yangtze and Yellow rivers. The area provides important migration stopover or wintering sites for a wide range of shorebirds (including many threatened species, such as the Spotted Greenshank (Tringa guttifer)) traveling between breeding sites in northern China and Siberia and “wintering” sites in Australia and southern China, The threatened Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) winters in Yancheng in large numbers (now the largest wintering population in the world) and the threatened Saunders' Gull (Larus saundersii) still breeds in Yancheng in small numbers. Yancheng is the site of a captive breeding operation that has successfully brought the endangered Pere David’s Deer (Elaphurus davidianus) from a small population repatriated from UK in 1986 to a 600 strong herd that is now too large for its enclosure in the Dafeng National Nature Reserve. Releases of some animals have been arranged and are being monitored. Resolution of the problems associated with the steadily increasing captive herd of Pere David’s Deer at Dafeng NNR is required. The institutional irregularities that have allowed Dafeng NNR to be superimposed on the existing Yancheng NNR have also to be addressed. The migratory and wintering birds feed extensively in the agricultural fields and the salt farms but many species depend on resources found only on the intertidal mudflats. Threats to this important habitat include enclosure by sea walls and colonization by the Common Cord-grass (Spartina anglica) an alien invasive species. Planting of trees and conversion of farms from irrigated rice to non-irrigated cotton and other crops pose threats to overall wetland cover and suitability for passage migrants and wintering birds. Human disturbance, and over-collection of marine invertebrates from the mudflats are also problems locally. Even within the core zone of the Yancheng NNR potentially damaging aquaculture projects continue because they provide revenue for the reserve. Pollution from local and distant sources is reported to be leading to a steady decline in the quality of the sea water. There are also potentially far reaching effects of declines in water flow and sediment from the rivers: although at present the mudflats are still expanding steadily. Apart from the Pere David’s Deer programme, there are various captive breeding operations in the reserves, some of which merely divert effort and investment from more worthwhile activities. In the case of the Red-crowned Cranes, however, captive breeding could constitute a threat to the wild flocks, particularly if the scheme involves removing eggs from Zhalong Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang. 2 Dongting Lake Dongting Lake, in north-eastern Hunan province is a huge lake of varying size that fills to about 3000 sq. km in summer and shrinks to form three separate lakes, (West, South, and East) with a total area of around 1000 sq. km in winter. The lake has become steadily smaller over the past 70 years as a result of siltation from both the Yangtze and the Li, Yuan, Zi and Xiang rivers. This process has been augmented by the creation of dykes and polders to claim more and more of the former lake bed as farmland, and an accompanying enormous influx of farmers from surrounding areas. As a result the capacity of the lake to serve as a buffer when the Yangtze is in flood has been reduced. The pattern has been the same over the whole of the Lower Yangtze Basin: in Hubei province in particular there has been a massive reduction in number and area of lakes since the 1950’s. The severe floods of 1998 and, to a lesser extent, 2002, have led to an official reversal of policy. Low-lying farmland in Dongting will be returned to the lake by opening up dykes and polders and the aim is to restore the lake area to its 1949 size of 4,350 sq. km. The global biodiversity importance of the lake lies mainly in two areas. First it is a home for a large number of Yangtze River aquatic endemic species including several fish, such as the Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) and the almost extinct Chinese Paddlefish (Psephurus gladius), and several molluscs, crustaceans and other invertebrates. The Yangtze River Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) used to occur but this species is now reduced to fewer than 100 individuals and is unlikely to survive much longer. The only freshwater population of the Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) is still seen regularly but is also severely threatened. Second, the open mudflats, grass and sedge marshes and surrounding wetlands are used as winter feeding areas by migratory shore birds such as the Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) and Marsh Sandpiper (T. stagnatilis) and water birds, notably the threatened Lesser White fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides) and Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana), and also Baer’s Pochard (Aythya baeri), and some Siberian, White-naped and Hooded Cranes (Grus leucogeranus, G. vipio and G. monacha) and the Marsh Grassbird (Megalurus pryeri) . The birds are the best known of the fauna, but the less conspicuous species are no less important. Threats to the fish and other aquatic species are numerous and include pollution, overfishing, gravel dredging, alien species, aquaculture, changes in hydrology, disturbance by shipping, some reed (Miscanthus spp) farming practices, and separation of living area from breeding area by the construction of the Gezhouba and Three Gorges dams upstream. Reductions in the populations of migratory fish species have already been shown through fish catch data. None of the threats can be tackled simply through the construction of protected areas and none can be controlled solely under the mandate of the State Forestry Administration. There is a Dongting Lake wide “Ecological Function Reserve” being planned by the Hunan provincial Environmental Protection Bureau, but with little effective coordination with the provincial Forestry Bureau and the existing nature reserves. The lake is used by a vast number of people and economic enterprises and a wide range of agencies including the State Environmental Protection Bureau, the Fisheries Administration Bureau, the Water Bureau, The Reed Management Authority and the East Dongting Lake Management Bureau are involved in management, but coordination between these and other agencies requires considerable improvement. The main threats to the migratory birds are pollution, illegal hunting (including by poisoning) and human disturbance. Lack of habitat is not a major threat at present: there is suitable feeding habitat all around the lake but water levels vary between years and there are indications that siltation is resulting in reduction of the marsh habitat. The distribution of suitable habitat for both feeding and roosting changes from year to year. Agricultural land is an extremely important habitat for some species - birds often feed on crops during the late harvest period or take fish or prawns from aquaculture ponds, thus creating conflicts with the local people. However, cranes, geese and other species feed harmlessly after the harvest and can contribute to fertilization of the fields. Proper involvement of local people and agricultural enterprises, and provision of suitable incentives could do much to ensure conservation of biodiversity. Changes in cropping patterns have significant effects on the habitat suitability for various species: for example the conversion of paddies to lotus ponds, cotton fields and sugar cane inside (and outside) nature reserves, if done on a large scale can lead to substantial changes in numbers of wintering cranes and geese in particular. The effects of the Three Gorges Dam could also be far reaching: particularly as it is envisaged that water levels will be kept artificially low during the summer flood season and then raised substantially in the winter. There is a risk that the shallow wetlands that waterbirds require could be reduced in extent, but this needs continual assessment: there is already considerable annual variation in water levels. Concentration on nature reserves alone will not be effective, particularly as the current reserves bear little or no resemblance to their legal status. Basin-wide restrictions on fishing have been enforced with moderate success, but the nature reserve experimental and buffer zones contain millions of people and none of the myriad of economic activities appears to be excluded. Even in the nature reserve core areas many of these activities occur. In order to tackle the threats at Dongting high levels of coordination are required at local, provincial, regional and national levels. Siltation levels are already being addressed by reforestation of upland watersheds: local measures to reduce bank erosion are also used. Control of pollution discharge from factories and agricultural land requires firmer action, and reducing the risk from alien invasive species requires constant vigilance and coordination between agencies. Programmes of biological monitoring, public involvement and awareness, and law enforcement are required over the whole area to support management. 3. Sanjiang Plain The Sanjiang Plain in Heilongjiang Province is a ten million ha low lying alluvial flood plain situated between the Heilongjiang (Amur) and Wusuli (Ussuri) rivers on the Russian border. In its natural state the area consisted of a mosaic of sedge and reed marshes, meandering water courses and ox-bow lakes, wet grass meadows, riverine scrub and mixed woodlands. It is only during the last 40 years or so that the area has been drained and cleared for agriculture so that very little of the original habitat survives. The area of marshes has been reduced from an estimated 5.4 million ha in the 1950’s to less than 1.5 million ha today. The global biodiversity importance of the area lies in the threatened species of birds that breed or migrate through there, including the White-naped Crane (Grus vipio), the Red-crowned Crane and the Oriental Stork. The Heilongjiang, Wusuli and Sanjing basins together support almost the entire global population of Oriental Stork. The area is also home to significant populations of Menzbier's Pipit (Anthus [gustavi] menzbieri), a bird (sub) species with a very restricted range, endemic to north-east China and adjacent Russia and probably supports a high proportion of the global population of Swinhoe’s Rail (Coturnicops exquisitus). Globally significant numbers of geese, including Lesser White-fronted Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) and the Bean Goose (Anser fabalis), roost and forage on the Sanjiang Plain during migration, and the area supports nesting populations of over 40 species of waterbirds, four of which are globally threatened. The birds are the best known of the fauna, but the less conspicuous species are no less important. There are over 80 species of fish recorded, including the globally endangered Amur Sturgeon (Acipenser schrenkii) and Kaluga Sturgeon (Huso daurica), and five species of salmonids, including Chum (Oncorhynchus keta), Taiman (Hucho taimen) and Lenok (Brachymystax lenok). The globally threatened Chinese Softshell (Pelodiscus sinensis) also occurs on the Sanjiang plains. Annual catches of sturgeon have fallen from reported highs of 12,000 tonnes in the 1890’s to less than 1% of this level in recent years. Approaches to restoring sturgeon populations include release of captive reared fry but such programmes appear fundamentally flawed and are at best an ineffective diversion of resources that could be spent in more effective ways, for example in reducing fishing and protecting spawning beds. Threats to biodiversity include drainage for agriculture (this has been banned officially for the last three years but still continues), pollution and eutrophication as a result of agrochemicals, large hydrological schemes that change water regimes without adequate consideration of the effects, and illegal taking of wildlife. Tree felling has removed important components of the ecosystem for certain birds such as the Oriental Stork, the Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) and the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra). There are over 20 nature reserves on the Sanjiang Plain, but as at other sites many of these reserves either do not or cannot exclude human activities to conform with the nature reserve regulations. Honghe National Nature Reserve is a Ramsar Site and the management does have significant authority over decisions within the reserves but a certain degree of farming is still permitted to continue for revenue raising purposes. Some farming, if properly assessed and managed, may even be acceptable subject to certain conditions. The key will be to develop policy that takes into account the overall hydrology of the region, is not too dogmatic, and results in rational and legal solutions. This may involve changes in nature reserve zonation and boundaries and in the categories of protected areas available to planners. Various plans are being drawn up for economic activities on Sanjiang Plain under an Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan. It is likely that forestry plantations will take up much of the investment. It is important that new initiatives are well screened for potential effects on the environment and biodiversity. The Sanjiang plains are part of the larger river ecosystem shared with Russia, and wetland biodiversity conservation in Sanjiang cannot be carried out adequately without good exchange of information and ideas with Russian organizations just the other side of the Heilong/Amur and Wusuli/Ussuri rivers. There is already an agreement for collaboration between the Sanjiang NNR and the Bolshekhekhtsirski Nature Reserve across the Wusuli River and at the regional scale there are various transboundary agreements on international waters and fisheries. The Environmental Commission between Russia and China has called for an increase in collaboration on transboundary ecosystem management and has just met again in Beijing (October 2004). 4. Ruoergai Marshes The Ruoergai wetlands are a large plateau depression on the Gansu-Sichuan borders at about 3,600m a.m.s.l. where about 1 million ha of peatlands and marshes interspersed with low hills and dry grasslands act as important water sources for both the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. The Ruoergai marshes have for centuries been used for grazing of yaks, sheep and horses by transhumant herdsmen, and have also supported a number of species of wild mammals, many birds and a unique flora. Human population density is low, but there are still threats to the wetlands arising from drainage, peat mining and changes in agricultural practices. The marshes are home to the threatened Pallas’s Fish Eagle (Haliaetus leucoryphus) and are a major breeding area of the threatened Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis).. As always with assessing threats to migratory species a broad perspective must be maintained: pressures on the Black Necked Crane may be greater in their lower lying wintering areas than in the higher breeding areas of Ruoergai. Government policies in the past included drainage of the marshes to extend grassland pasture, settlement of herdsmen, fencing of land and introduction of alien species of grass. The results have been drying of the marshes, loss of wild mammals, and overgrazing and degradation of wetlands and grasslands in many places. The long established pattern of grazing rights has been disrupted by establishment of large nature reserves and a permit system based on blocks of pasture rather than on head of livestock. The result has been increased grazing pressure. Recent increases in mean annual temperature could be the result of local loss of vegetation and wetlands on the plateau. Drainage combined with overgrazing, appears to have led to the start of desertification on loose, sandy soils and to increased susceptibility to zokor (Myospalax fontanieri) and pika (Ochotona spp) population explosions in some areas. Poisoning and trapping campaigns against zokor and pika are now generally accepted to be counterproductive but are still advocated by some. Recognition of the threat to the Yellow River water supply has led to reversal of the drainage policy, and a process of blocking drains has begun in many areas. Creation of more seasonally flooded grasslands could lead to the return of more seasonal transhumant livestock management and a decrease in the use of fenced units. From the perspective of global biodiversity the main threats are loss of wetland habitat, degradation of grasslands, fencing of grasslands, introduction of alien species, increased human disturbance, the poisoning of zokors and pikas, and insufficient mitigation of development initiatives such as new roads. Digging for rock, sand and gravel for upgrading of National Highway 213 through Gahai-Zecha NNR and along the eastern boundary of Rouergai NNR is already leaving scars on the landscape that will cause erosion in the future, and the improved transportation will bring increased tourism with possible negative environmental effects. As in Dongting, there are relatively advanced Environmental Protection Bureau plans for an EFCA covering the whole of the Ruoergai Marshes and overlying the Forestry Bureau run nature reserves, but there appears to be insufficient coordination in planning it and setting it up. There has been insufficient consultation with scientists on this and on changes in the policies on land use for herding. The problems are complex and the threats facing the wetlands are viewed in different ways by different groups of stakeholders: hydrologists, herdsmen, and biodiversity enthusiasts all have different priorities. Local herders feel sore if they see their ancestral resources wasted by poorly conceived management initiatives. Including the people most closely affected by the problems will be an essential part of the project’s approach to designing solutions. |