Protecting Ecology and Improving People’s Livelihood | CBCGDF was Invited to the Baiyangdian Ecological Security Consultation Seminar
2020/4/28 16:52:00 本站

At the National Ecological Environment Protection Conference in 2018, President Xi Jinping deeply illustrated the significance of ecological civilization construction in livelihoods, modernization construction, and sustainable development, gave a comprehensive interpretation of Ecological Civilization, and drew up a blueprint for pushing the development of ecological civilization to a new stage. Building a beautiful China is foreseeable.

 

On April 24th, delegates of the Research Office of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) at the invitation of Anxin County department attend the seminar and discuss with heads and officers of government departments, experts of universities and scientific research institutions, and indigenous farmers on the recent problems of eco-environment and livelihoods (digging lotus roots, cutting weed roots, setting craps, and pick lotus flowers, etc). The seminar aims to find solutions to conserve the ecological environment of Baiyangdian and secure livelihoods of the local community, laying equal importance to biodiversity conservation and green development.

 

Mr. Zang, Director of the County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, introduces the current difficulties. Under the guidance of Xiongan New District, tens of thousands of local people are influenced by the pandemic, and ecological problems pop up especially excessive digging. The county government attaches great importance to this issue and collaborates with CBCGDF on mobilizing the public to carry out a special campaign entitled Four Seasons Protection. Wang, Minister of the county Organization Department, functions as the general director of the campaign, and the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau takes the lead. The local Natural Resources Bureau, Ecology and Environment Bureau, and other relevant authorities invite experts to contribute to the seminar.

 

In the beginning, representatives of Guangdian village and Zhaocun village introduce the current situation that villagers dig lotus roots, reap reed roots, and set plastic nets for fish catching in detail. It has been a tradition for the local community to dig lotus roots and reap reed roots which are usually carried out from March to May. The indigenous people request the government to comprehensively consider people's livelihood, and formulate management measures to avoid adopting the policy of cutting at one stroke. The head of Juantou Village Agricultural Affairs Station shared his working experience in organizing 17 households of farmers to establish Reed Protection and Utilization Association. The Association rectifies behaviors of digging via regulation formulation. This practice is agreed upon by participants. The government will take the leading role in the scientific utilization of ecological resources, thus promoting livelihoods.

 

Tian, Director of the local Natural Resources Bureau, introduces the current working progress and quotes Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, Secretary-General of CBCGDF as saying that to construct ecological civilization needs people to make changes, and problems may arise subsequently. To abolish the obsolete thoughts and conserve Baiyangdian is the common interest for people and government. Yang, Director of the local Ecology and Environment Bureau, illustrates comprehensive management indicators of Baiyangdian and long-term development guiding documents. By giving the example that diggings after water recession in lotus fields have caused pollution, he highlights the ecological protection of Baiyangdian is a shared task for all sectors of the society.

 

Besides, experts from Hebei University, Hebei Agricultural University, Hebei Academic of Marine and Aquatic Sciences, and Public Service Bureau introduce the history of Baiyangdian, ecological underlying resources (reed, lotus, fish and so on), invasive species langoustine, researches of the relevant industry, and governmental policy. After analyzing the facts as villagers report, experts address to design the digging spot, frequency, degree, scope, and construction program in detail, and to follow the principle of intercropping and rotation. To reap white reed roots and young lotus moderately will not only promote the growth of plants but also have positive effects on ecological conservation. Experts suggest organizing training on scientific exploitation and utilization through a government-association-villager management system. Some mention that the Hebei provincial Ecology and Environment Department is working on the regulation of langoustine catching tools, and any tools failing to meet the official requirement are forbidden. They can provide the local community with assistance.

 

Clear waters and green mountains are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver. CBCGDF Research Office agrees on suggestions and opinions put forward by experts, advice to conduct a comprehensive analysis and research for the formulation of specific articles, and to take the orientation of problem-solving, securing welfare, and livelihood for people. Moreover, government agencies should strengthen supervision and capacity building, keep acquiring professional knowledge, and improve basic resources monitoring. Department could balance the relation between protection and economic growth by promoting the development of the culture and tourism industry.

 

CBCGDF hopes to build up an effective mechanism with the participation of government and civil society for achieving the scientific management and use of local ecological resources, to practice the philosophy of Ecological Civilization via legislation at the local level.


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(Photo credit: CBCGDF)


Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/12201.html


By / Wang Yanqing Modified / Maggie