Guangdong takes the lead in building natural reserves

Guangdong has built 380 nature reserves, the most in the nation, according to Chen Junguang, head of the Guangdong Forestry Administration, during the fourth session of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress on July 25.

According to Chen, marine nature reserves in Guangdong province have expanded to 366,800 hectares and the total land area of Guangdong's nature reserves reached 1.33 million hectares this year, accounting for 7.42 percent of the province's land area.

Guangdong adopted an ecological compensation system in 1999 and has raised its compensation standard every year since 2000. The province will conduct a pilot study in the tiered compensation system for eco-forests and offer greater support to special areas. It will specify the area of the Northern Guangdong Ecological Nature Reserve and make a clear action plan.

Chen also noted that based on the instructions of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Guangdong will carry out inspections of all nature reserves. To solve problems with the current managerial system, Guangdong will take institutional reform as a turning point, and streamline and optimize management at all levels by conducting surveys and research and drawing up action plans.

A preliminary legislative study of the standardized management of all nature reserves in Guangdong province is currently being carried out by the Guangdong Nature Reserve Regulations.