eTN Asia, 3-11-2006
The drive to protect its famous monuments and nature reserves continues to get stronger and stronger in China.
Following the recent decision to pass its first set of laws against vandalizing the country’s legendary Great Wall, China has now stepped up protection of its state-level nature reserves to crack down on activities such as film shooting and unauthorized tourism, according to a new regulation.
“The maintenance and management of state-level nature reserves should be evaluated by a State Council-authorized committee at least every five years,” as per the regulation, which will come into effect from December onwards. The regulation pertaining to the Great Wall is also going to applicable from December with those found violating the laws to be fined as much as 500,000 yuan ($63,300).
It is being felt that some of the local governments waiver nature reserve protection in favour of economic development.
“If dereliction of duty, unapproved changes of the reserve area or unauthorized tourism are found at state-level natural reserves, the reserves will be officially warned or even revoked of their state-level status and related officials will be punished,” said Zhou Shengxian, director of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA). “If the reserves lose their state-level status, they can not apply for it again for five years.”
