Brief Introduction of Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve
Teachers’ workshop in cooperation with Mangrove Action Project
Covering
four counties (cities) and four districts, Zhanjiang Mangrove National
Nature Reserve (ZMNNR) situates at the southernmost tip of Mainland
China on the Leizhou Peninsula of Guangdong Province. ZMNNR had a total
area of 20278.8 ha, 9200 ha of which were covered by mangroves and
accounted for 78% of all mangrove areas in Guangdong province and 33% of
the national total. It was a nature reserve with largest mangrove area
with a rich biodiversity in the mainland China. An inclusion into the
Ramsar list in January 2002 enabled the reserve to become an
internationally important area in protecting biodiversity and ecosystem.
In 2006 the reserve was appointed as a national demonstration reserve.
There were 51 demonstration reserves in the whole China, 2 of which were
located in Guangdong province. In August 2012, ZMNNR was included into
MAB (Man and Biosphere, China) to become a member of the MAB (China)
Network.
four counties (cities) and four districts, Zhanjiang Mangrove National
Nature Reserve (ZMNNR) situates at the southernmost tip of Mainland
China on the Leizhou Peninsula of Guangdong Province. ZMNNR had a total
area of 20278.8 ha, 9200 ha of which were covered by mangroves and
accounted for 78% of all mangrove areas in Guangdong province and 33% of
the national total. It was a nature reserve with largest mangrove area
with a rich biodiversity in the mainland China. An inclusion into the
Ramsar list in January 2002 enabled the reserve to become an
internationally important area in protecting biodiversity and ecosystem.
In 2006 the reserve was appointed as a national demonstration reserve.
There were 51 demonstration reserves in the whole China, 2 of which were
located in Guangdong province. In August 2012, ZMNNR was included into
MAB (Man and Biosphere, China) to become a member of the MAB (China)
Network.
Achievement gained by ZMNNR
The
greatest result achieved by ZMNNR since its establishment is the
almost-stop of deforestation for the purpose of shrimp and fish farming
due to its legal enforcement and patrolling. Three levels of resource
management system “headquarter-field station-protection plot” were set
up. Resource management was enhanced further with an establishment of a
mangrove police station by the reserve in early 2012.
greatest result achieved by ZMNNR since its establishment is the
almost-stop of deforestation for the purpose of shrimp and fish farming
due to its legal enforcement and patrolling. Three levels of resource
management system “headquarter-field station-protection plot” were set
up. Resource management was enhanced further with an establishment of a
mangrove police station by the reserve in early 2012.
Natural
resource was increased greatly. For instance, the resource survey in
2002 and 2009 separately recorded 7,256 ha mangroves and 9,200 ha
mangroves. It showed the mangrove area of the reserve has increased. In
addition, the waterbird survey conducted by ZMNNR for 10 years in a row
showed that the population and species of birds in the reserve were kept
increased. The surveys carried out in the fixed observation points in
2002, 2008 and 2010 separately recorded 908 birds, 2377 birds and 5319
birds.
resource was increased greatly. For instance, the resource survey in
2002 and 2009 separately recorded 7,256 ha mangroves and 9,200 ha
mangroves. It showed the mangrove area of the reserve has increased. In
addition, the waterbird survey conducted by ZMNNR for 10 years in a row
showed that the population and species of birds in the reserve were kept
increased. The surveys carried out in the fixed observation points in
2002, 2008 and 2010 separately recorded 908 birds, 2377 birds and 5319
birds.
Plantation
Mangrove
resources were restored with contributions from government input etc.
Until now, the reserve has successfully planted about 1500 ha, which
helped the mangrove area of ZMNNR increase to 9200 ha from 5800 ha in
1985. Now the planted mangroves have played a great role in dyke
protection and biodiversity maintenance.
resources were restored with contributions from government input etc.
Until now, the reserve has successfully planted about 1500 ha, which
helped the mangrove area of ZMNNR increase to 9200 ha from 5800 ha in
1985. Now the planted mangroves have played a great role in dyke
protection and biodiversity maintenance.
Plantation aims to increase the reserve’s area of
mangroves
mangroves
Resource monitoring
Since
2001, cooperated with 5 universities or research institutes, ZMNNR has
carried out the following six inventories including mangrove inventory,
fish and shellfish inventory, bird survey, social economic survey of
community etc. The survey on mangrove plantation was done by the reserve
itself.
2001, cooperated with 5 universities or research institutes, ZMNNR has
carried out the following six inventories including mangrove inventory,
fish and shellfish inventory, bird survey, social economic survey of
community etc. The survey on mangrove plantation was done by the reserve
itself.
In
2009 ZMNNR became the first nature reserve in Guangdong having GIS
system built completely by the reserve’s technicians. ZMNNR also
established a long-distance resource real-time monitoring system for
important mangrove areas.
2009 ZMNNR became the first nature reserve in Guangdong having GIS
system built completely by the reserve’s technicians. ZMNNR also
established a long-distance resource real-time monitoring system for
important mangrove areas.
Environmental education
ZMNRN
carried out the environmental education in an active way through three
platforms including a mangrove education center, a field education site,
and the reserve website. A series of activities were held to increase
the public awareness including a photo competition, the 8th
Asian Wetland Celebration Week, development of a mangrove curriculum
with cooperation of MAP, appointment of 12 pilot schools in
environmental education etc.
carried out the environmental education in an active way through three
platforms including a mangrove education center, a field education site,
and the reserve website. A series of activities were held to increase
the public awareness including a photo competition, the 8th
Asian Wetland Celebration Week, development of a mangrove curriculum
with cooperation of MAP, appointment of 12 pilot schools in
environmental education etc.
Community co-management
ZMNNR
has tried community co-management in Gaoqiao where 4 villages were
selected as pilot villages to implement a community co-management plan.
ZMNNR funded the pilot villages in constructing cultural room and water
conservancy project etc. Living and production conditions of local
people were improved. Different groups and individuals got involved in
mangrove management by signing agreement with ZMNNR.
has tried community co-management in Gaoqiao where 4 villages were
selected as pilot villages to implement a community co-management plan.
ZMNNR funded the pilot villages in constructing cultural room and water
conservancy project etc. Living and production conditions of local
people were improved. Different groups and individuals got involved in
mangrove management by signing agreement with ZMNNR.
Center holds activities among villagers to raise their public awareness
External exchange and cooperation
From
2001 to 2005, ZMNNR successfully implemented a Sino-Dutch mangrove
project. In addition, 2 international exchange activities were held.
ZMNNR established a cooperative relation with several universities and
NGOs abroad such as University of Norway, the Wetland International etc.
2001 to 2005, ZMNNR successfully implemented a Sino-Dutch mangrove
project. In addition, 2 international exchange activities were held.
ZMNNR established a cooperative relation with several universities and
NGOs abroad such as University of Norway, the Wetland International etc.
2. Challenge faced by ZMNNR
2.1 Community co-management
ZMNNR
consisted of 68 protected areas and distributed along 1,500km coastal
line of Leizhou Peninsula. Difficulty was anticipated to effectively
manage natural resource in the reserve solely depending on the reserve
and its administrative staffs. Active participation of people living
adjacently in resource management was the most effective solution with a
realization of community co-management within the reserve.
consisted of 68 protected areas and distributed along 1,500km coastal
line of Leizhou Peninsula. Difficulty was anticipated to effectively
manage natural resource in the reserve solely depending on the reserve
and its administrative staffs. Active participation of people living
adjacently in resource management was the most effective solution with a
realization of community co-management within the reserve.
2.2 Land tenure issue
ZMNNR
finished its boundary demarcation in 2005, and the demarcation only
clarified administrative scope and area of the reserve without
specifying jurisdiction. For the purpose of acquisition of exclusive
management right and usage right, there was a great need for ZMNNR to
obtain tenureship for the demarcated protection areas.
finished its boundary demarcation in 2005, and the demarcation only
clarified administrative scope and area of the reserve without
specifying jurisdiction. For the purpose of acquisition of exclusive
management right and usage right, there was a great need for ZMNNR to
obtain tenureship for the demarcated protection areas.
Contact:
Annie Chen, Vice Director
Sustainable Resource Use Section
Administrative Bureau of Zhanjiang Mangrove National Reserve
E-mail: judithcjj@yahoo.com.cn