Hainan island is home to sprawling tropical rainforest and currently drafting a general plan by June to build a national tropical rainforest park and related legislation.
The park is reported to be an integral part of China’s latest plan to build Hainan into a “national ecological civilization pilot zone.”
The environmental quality is expected to reach world-leading levels by 2035.
The target stipulates, substantial progress is expected to be achieved in environmental protection by 2020. The environmental quality and resource utilization efficiency are expected to reach world-leading levels by 2035.
The zone will focus on structured management of natural resources, coordinating conservation and development of land and sea, conserving the environment, exploring value from the environment, promoting green lifestyle and production, said Wang Qiang, head of the provincial water resources department.
By 2020, 98 percent of the days are expected to have have good air quality, forest coverage will be kept above 62 percent, and 95 percent of the main rivers and lakes will be free of pollution.
“The plan sets detailed targets for the quality of air, sea, rivers, and forests, which ensures the environment in Hainan will continue to get better, not worse,” said Ge Chengjun, a professor with Hainan University.
Green development, better life
A national tropical rainforest park project also went into effect on the island in January this year to protect and restore the eco-system, and strike a balance with the social and economic development of surrounding areas.
Li minority woman Hainan Island
The forests are the traditional homes for ethnic Li and Miao minority groups who suffer from poverty and conflicts between ecological protection and economic development, said Xiong Anjing, deputy director of the provincial government research office.
“The national park will be an opportunity to explore and institutionalize ways to protect natural resources while eradicating poverty”.
The plan proposes exploring value from ecological tourism
The plan also proposes exploring value from ecological products, including ecological agriculture and tourism, and green finance.
“Hainan’s economy is still developing. Government authorities need to find more ways to convert ecological advantages into economic wealth,” said Wang Yiwu, dean of the Hainan Institute of Modern Management.
“Hainan is in a good position to restructure industries, and develop tourism, tropical agriculture, modern service industries, and high-tech industries”.
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