[Editor’s note:] In February 2020, in order to promote the standardized management of wildlife protection, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) sent a letter to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) on "Proposing Central Ecological Environment Protection Inspector Team to Conduct Special Inspections on the Supervision and Management of National Wildlife Resources".

Subsequently, CBCGDF made ten recommendations around the revision of the Wildlife Protection Law and submitted them to the Committee of Legislative Affairs of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Among them, the seventh recommendation clearly stated that "the central ecological environmental protection inspection should cover the management of wildlife and implement 'lifelong accountability'". As a key component of the ecosystem, wildlife is vital to maintaining biodiversity and the ecological security of the country.

CBCGDF proposes to implement a central ecological environmental protection inspection for wildlife management and implement life-long accountability for administrative permits, so as to quickly and effectively promote the change of leaders in relevant functional departments in the field of wildlife protection, from the previous use-oriented, to protection-centered, to effectively change the regulatory chaos in the chain of illegal wildlife transactions.

In response, Ma Yong, Deputy Secretary-General of CBCGDF also clearly emphasized in several interviews with the media: "Without disclosure of information, the public interest will easily become the interests of the departments. The wildlife supervision issue urgently requires the comprehensive coverage of the central environmental protection inspection and investigation a number of typical cases of dereliction of duty. "

Implementation of Wildlife Protection Laws and Regulations Is Expected to be Included in the Scope of Central Environmental Inspection

On March 10, Liu Youbin, a spokesman for the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), said at the press conference that the MEE is studying the implementation of laws and regulations on wildlife protection into the scope of the central ecological and environmental protection inspection.

Liu Youbin said that humans and wild animals are a community of life, and wild animals are important members of the large family of natural ecosystems. Their survival and safety are linked to the fate of humankind. Treating wild animals well is a sign and reflection of the progress of human civilization. China attaches great importance to wildlife protection, and President Xi has made clear requirements for wildlife protection many times. Since the outbreak of The COVID-19, the awareness of all sectors of society to protect wild animals has risen unprecedentedly, and the protection of wildlife has been placed on a more urgent agenda.

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment actively fulfills and coordinates the work responsibilities of “organizing and coordinating the protection of biodiversity” and “supervising the protection of wild animals and plants”, and actively doing related work on wildlife protection. Prepared and issued China's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2011-2030); released the Red List of China's Biodiversity in conjunction with the Chinese Academy of Sciences; organized a survey of invasive alien species in national nature reserves, and initially established China's database of invasive alien species; actively promotes the legislation and investigation of biological genetic resources; cooperates with and supports relevant departments to carry out special enforcement actions against illegal trade in wildlife.

In the next step, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will continue to implement the deployment requirements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council and play an active role in the protection of wildlife in the ecological environment department. Fully implement the "Decision on Comprehensively Banning the Trade in Illegal Wildlife, Eliminating the Bad Habits of Wild Animals, and Effectively Safeguarding the People's Livelihood, Health and Safety" just issued by the National People's Congress. At the same time, actively cooperate with the revision of the "Wildlife Protection Law" and "National Key Protected Wildlife Directory" to provide stronger legal protection for strengthening wildlife protection.

Second, study the implementation of wildlife protection laws and regulations into the scope of the central ecological environmental protection supervision, further promote local party committees and governments, and relevant departments to effectively perform their main responsibilities, and ensure that various measures are effective.

In addition, it will give play to the leadership role of the National Committee on Biodiversity, and also do a good job of biodiversity protection. Based on the "China Red List of Biodiversity", it will carry out investigations and evaluations on the effectiveness of wildlife protection and strengthen external supervision functions. Strengthen publicity and education on ecological environment protection, and take the opportunity of World Environment Day, International Biodiversity Day, and COP15 held in China this year to cultivate ecological ethics, promote ecological culture, and guide the public to implement the "Citizens' Ecological Environmental Code of Conduct" (" Ten Articles of Citizens ") to enhance public initiative and consciousness in protecting wildlife.

Original Chinese article:

http://www.bjd.com.cn/a/202003/10/WS5e671aa2e4b05d1eff0b59f1.html