A Study on the Relationships of Ecological Civilization Construction with Natural Conservation and Sustainable Resources Use

Xianpu WANG, Shunli YU, Weiwei FANG

State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Changes, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China

In September 2012, the 5thWorld Conservation Congress was held in Jeju Island by International Union of Nature Conservation (IUCN),themed by Resilient Nature, discussing how to respect, conform to,and protect nature, based on which research can be conducted on further recognizing nature, scientific using of nature,improving nature and renovating nature activity in order to tackle climate change, establish a natural protection and green economy system,manage biodiversity for human welfare,and guarantee food safety,which drew attention worldwide. In November of the same year, the 18thParty Congress proposed to make great efforts to promote ecological progress,which is believed of vital importance to the people’s wellbeing and China’s future, and it has been incorporated into all aspects and the whole process of advancing economic, political, cultural and social progress. It is obvious that the concerned issue coincides at home and abroad,but the specific aspects,such as correlation, targets and tasks, and the measures for achieving the goals, are not so clear, which are explored in the research.

Construction of ecological civilization is a theoretical guiding ideology applicable for economy development in any region, which demands specific implementations. Furthermore, natural protection and resource recycling should comply with ecological development rules in different regions, for without a correct guidance thought,immediate interests would dominate, resulting in resource exhaustion,ecosystem injury and environment pollution.In contrary,however, if environment is over-protected, it won’t work, either,which would lead to poaching and excessively felling.Therefore, both sides should be well considered, which are of close relationship.

Basic Task

Ecological civilization construction, and natural conservation and sustainable resources use are three aspects of same theme proposed from perspectives of theory and practice,but the task is the same.

To intensify effects of natural protection on global warming changes

Because of discharge of green-house gases,the change of global climate changes has drawn more and more attention, and deglaciation, sealevel rise, changes of climate pattern,and extreme weather have become major factors driving change of biodiversity and instability of agricultural production. With attention paid to reduction of CO2discharge, the way to reduce the discharge by nature force is not well considered. For example,some measures can be proposed, including intensifying protection on forests, rational use of pasturing areas, construction of farmland regions to comprehensive agricultural region characterized by landscape diversity,highlighting management on wetlands and coastal zones, freshwater or sea fishing in a scientific way,reinforce urban afforestation, extension of development scales of circular economy and low-carbon economy, making full use of renewable energy sources, effective control of pollutants’ discharges, maintaining environment quality, establishing biodiversity management region, ecological demonstration zone and eco-towns. In general,it is key to guarantee coexistence of modernization and nature and of economy construction with biodiversity and cultural diversity[1-4].

To protect network construction and establish green economy in conservation zones

A conservation zone is a unique land dedicated to land and wildlife conservation. With social development, it gradually evolves into a fundamental unit for regional eco-civilization construction integrating protection and development.Based on division of functional zones, the conflict possibly produced from simultaneous protection and development can be well resolved. Hence, to well develop a conservation zone would promote ecological development of the region.What’s more, the protection of regional network is key for natural protection,which concerns different departments,organizations and even every person,besides governments. Therefore,competent departments should obtain funds from national finance, and implement tasks into social and economic development plan, state-operated or privately operated, as well, to make a benefited environment and rich resources accessible, with corresponding duties. Hence, natural protection activities would not only pure public welfare establishments just shouldered by governments, but also a burgeoning eco-civilization construction task. It is notable that both of conservation zone and economic entities are a part of green economy system[5-9]and if original forestry stations would develop comprehensively as per conservation zone management model, it is understandable that natural forest protection project is considered in playing a role of leading green economy[10-11].

To manage biodiversity for human wellbeing

Human existence and development mainly rely on biodiversity.Therefore, it is an important task for construction of eco-civilization to improve human livelihood, reduce poverty and environmental fragility, as well as improve environment quality and human safety by protecting and sustainable use of biodiversity.Specifically, measures such as in situ conservation, ex-situ conservation,and in vitro conservation,can be taken to develop conservation zones,botanic garden, zoo, aquarium, and gene pool, to establish into basic units of ecological civilization construction. Still,production can never be ignored, for many endangered species are saved by cultivation and breeding, including ginkgo, metasequoia, elk and sika deer[12-17].

To advance eco-agriculture and establish organic agriculture production base

Traditional agricultural districts are mostly comprehensive agriculture with all-round development of agriculture forestry, animal husbandry, sideline occupations and fishery based on long-term practices.In the ecosystems of crop rotation, intercropping and relay intercropping, the integration of local excellent species and soil animals or microorganism guarantees sustainability of soil fertility and crop high yield. Nevertheless, in so many agricultural districts, such tradition disappears already, and most depend on extensive management farmlands with external so-called high-yielding species and small-scale agriculture,for most labor forces become migrant workers and biology culture is replaced by chemistry. Consequently,with a high yield, some regions are contaminated in soils and crops,resulting in unsafe food.Currently,it is necessary and key to draw experience,develop eco-agriculture according to local conditions and establish organic agriculture production bases[17-21].

To determine the relationship of tourism with biodiversity and cultural diversity to promote ecotourism

World tourism organization determined the theme of World Tourism Day in 2010 as "Tourism and Biodiversity", demanding people to better learn the role played by biodiversity and related cultural diversity in advancing eco-tourism. The attracting scenic spots and sites can be chosen fr sightseeing, relaxing, or improving health from the perspectives of landscape diversity, bio-system diversity,biodiversity,genetic diversity or cultural diversity. After all, eco-tourism is a crucial component of eco-civilization construction, which is indispensable for social and economic advancement,and whose development would make contribution to eco-civilization construction and new socialist countryside construction. Hence, eco-tourism should be well considered and implemented in constructing conservation zones and protecting biodiversity[22].

To establish and improve legislation system in natural protection

With progress made of China in participating international ecological convention, domestic legislation system maintains incomplete in terms of nature field. For example, some laws and regulations lag behind concerning natural protection[23]. At present, construction of ecological civilization has been a part of national social and economic development, and it becomes urgent for construction of ecological civilization to formulate laws from the perspective of natural protection, including nature conservation act, biodiversity conservation act,cultural diversity protection law,reserve act,natural and cultural heritage conservation law,endangered species law, law of prevention and control of bio-invasion,bio-security act, renewable energy law, biological resources management regulation, regulations of returning the grain plots to forestry and lake, and eco-compensation rules.Only by a complete legislation system could a harmonious society be accomplished[24-26].

To reinforce eco-conservation promotion and education and to advance establishment of awareness of ecological civilization

The construction of ecological civilization aims at implementing sustainable development strategy, constructing a harmonious society, and correcting the practice of overdeveloping resources in industrial age, which demands the reinforcement of ecology awareness among people, promoting present and future development of China.However,it is known that ecology awareness is an advanced consciousness,which is difficult to be formulated. On the other hand, consciousness and matter are of close relationship, and it is meaningless for consciousness without matter.What’s more, it is feasible for coexistence between modernization and nature and of economy construction with biodiversity and cultural diversity to stimulate exploration on natural and social development and overcome eagerness for quick success and instant benefits by education of eco-conservation, involving school education and social education. It can be concluded that eco-conservation education is a key for construction of ecological civilization, which should be conducted in a long term[27-28].

To intensify cooperation and exchange at home and abroad

The construction of ecological civilization is an international undertaking,which requires both successive experiences at home and abroad and selfobtained effective ways,including constructing trans-boundary conservation zone, carrying out cooperation and exchanges, holding forum, seminar,training course, and economic conference[29].

Key Ways

After determination of basic definition, objective and task of ecological civilization, feasible implementation ways are necessary and urgent. It is obvious that it is the most crucial to improve management system and establish coordination departments.Presently, with management departments available, most work for the benefit of their departments, and it is demanding for a leading and authorized department. According to the principle of "uniformed coordination and scattered management", government reform should take the issue into consideration. In Guiyang City,Guizhou Province,a priority was given to innovation system by local government, and leading work was emphasized of the ecological civilization work, in order to further strengthen construction of eco-civilization city,which provides references and suggestions[30].If a national ecological civilization construction committee can be established administered by National Development and Reform Commission or the State Council, it is of high probability that the objective can be achieved with policies and funds.It is a serious issue should be attended in institutional reform.

Conclusions

In the 21stcentury, the 18thParty Congress to make great efforts to promote ecological progress, incorporating that the current period is quite key for further development[31], which should be recognized by different departments or organizations. If management system above can be well accomplished, natural conservation and resource recycling should be well integrated. At present, biosphere conservation zones have been demonstrated to be a management mode that would integrated protection and development, with management type and monitoring established[32-34]. Therefore,on basis of previous experience in conservation zones available, it is recommended to carry out test demonstrations to promote further development.

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