HOW DOES BIODIVERSITY SAFEGUARDWATER SUPPLY ?The roots of trees penetrate deep into the soil allowing water to

permeate and be absorbed during heavy rain. We call this the

sponge effect. With a forest in place we get a year-round flow of

filtered cleansed water. Without a forest we get flash floods when

it rains and droughts in the dry season. This hydrological function

is particularly important in China which has limited water resources

in many regions and seasons and is highly prone to floods at

other times.

Grasslands, peaty wetlands and lakes serve similar water sponge

functions, holding back a large volume of water during the flood

periods and releasing it gradually during dry spells for continued

drinking, irrigation or hydropower purposes.

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY ?Biodiversity is the total range of living things on this planet to-

gether with their processes, products and services. This includes

the functions of ecosystems, their component species and the

genetic variety within those species. Biodiversity includes the natu-

ral ecosystems and wild species living in them but also man-modi-

fied ecosystems and the variety of domesticated species main-

tained within them (agro-biodiversity).

mushrooms and ginseng

HOW DOES BIODIVERSITY BOOST TOURISM ?Foreign tourists flock to China with ever fatter wallets to see the

unique and fantastic scenery and wildlife. More than 200 million

visitors come to China each year. Tourism currently earns China

100 billion RMB per annum. A huge industry of transport

communications, hotels, restaurants, souvenirs and destination fa-

cilities has arisen and continues to grow. A large part of this is

dependent on biodiversity.

Domestic tourism grows even faster. Most visitors to parks are

Chinese nationals.

The domestic tourism industry grows even faster than the

international. Most visitors to

parks and na-

ture reserves in

China are now

d o m e s t i c

nationals.

Mixed natural regrowth forest

after 10 years closure

WHY DOES BIODIVERSITY LOSS RESULT INFLOODS ?The incidence of catastrophic floods in China has doubled over the past

few decades and this is largely due to loss of natural vegetation espe-

cially forests. Deforestation has caused a loss of the natural sponge

created by tree roots; water that would have been taken up by plants

and transpired directly into the atmosphere now flows directly into rivers.

The rivers themselves which should act as drains to take away excess

water in rainy periods are blocked with silt and gravel displaced from

bare lands exposed by loss of its vegetation cover. Even the incidence of

severe weather events that cause the floods is associated with global

warming brought about largely by deforestation.

Loss of riparian forest due to river °∞straightening°± adds to the problem.

WHY IS BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT ?The air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil we grow our crops

on, the crops themselves, most of the medicines we take when

we are ill, the parks and scenic spots we enjoy in our leisure mo-

ments even if only on television, the very climate that we take for

granted and the coal and oil we burn so casually are all the prod-

ucts of biodiversity. If we neglect to protect this precious attribute

of our only planet, mankind is certainly doomed.

HOW DOES BIODIVERSITY CREATE SOILS ?Soil is created from underlying rocks by the combined action of

plant roots and micro-organisms that break down the parent ma-

terial and mix it with plant fibre and humus, recycle nutrients, and

tie up some toxic metals. The most fertile soils are generated

under forest or in peatlands and dense vegetation cover is the

best way to consolidate and protect soils from erosive forces of

rain and weathering. When we open up soils for farming they

become gradually washed away and drained of their fertility. Farm-

ers must compensate by applying costly artificial fertilizers. The

value of soil formation processes in China is valued at $1-2 trillion

per year and critical for agriculture.

WHAT IS THE USE OF GENETIC RESOURCES ?Genetic resources are the raw building blocks that plant and ani-

mal breeders use in their constant search to improve, bolster or

adapt existing crops and domestic herds. Plant engineers seek

new genes to increase disease resistance, drought tolerance or

increase yields. Medical researchers look for new biologically ac-

tive compounds that can control blood pressure, anxiety, cure

cancer and other diseases. Many stinging animals such as spiders,

scorpions, snakes and some marine corals contain very potent

compounds that should be researched. Some wild species have

domestication potential to make new crops. Insignificant mihoutao

was taken from China to New Zealand and there transformed by

plant breeding into the large succulent kiwi fruit and a new lucra-

tive industry.

WHAT IS NATURAL BETTER THAN ARTIFICIAL ?Natural ecosystems have their own balance and adaptability. They

maintain and replace themselves cheaply without need of human

planting, watering, weeding, fertilizing or use of dangerous

pesticides. They are more resistant to drought, fire, diseases and

pests. Natural ecosystems have higher overall productivity, bet-

ter soil forming and soil protection functions, better hydrological

functions and greater overall carbon fixation than simpler artificial

farms or plantations. Alien species can harm natural ecosystem

functions.

HOW CAN BIODIVERSITY COMBATDESERTIFICATION ?Much of China consists of the raised sea bed of the ancient Tethys

Sea. The underlying ground is made of stony and sandy sediments

that can be easily eroded by wind and rain if it loses its protective

vegetation. Most of these lands were not forested but they were

well protected by a vegetation turf comprised of soil trapped in a

mesh of the roots of many grasses and other herbs. Grazing ani-

mals keep the herb layer short and encouraged plants to grow

horizontally giving thicker turf. We have to maintain or re-establish

this natural vegetation if we are to reverse desertification. Over-

grazing by sharp-hoofed domestic animals such as sheep and goats

damages the turf, allows the wind to get underneath it and leads to

the spread of dust and sand deserts. The process starts around

wells and water troughs where domestic animals gather to drink.

Degraded drylands can rapidly regenerate if protected from grazing.

HOW DOES BIODIVERSITY MITIGATECLIMATE CHANGE ?The biggest contributor to excess greenhouse gases in the atmo-

sphere which is driving current climate change is not the energy

sector but the global clearing of tropical forests and associated burn-

ing of surface peat and coal. The fastest and cheapest way to miti-

gate climate change and create a net reduction in greenhouse gas

emissions is to stop cutting forests and allow regrowth on bare areas.

China’s carbon footprint extends far beyond its own borders as China

is now the world’s top importer of timber from many other countries.

© John MacKinnon

WHAT PRODUCTS DOES BIODIVERSITY CENERATE ?Biodiversity provides renewable sources of timber and fuel wood,

mushrooms, honey, fish and game meat, fodder, edible fruits and

vegetables. These products contribute up to 60% of the needs of

some rural communities. In China several thousand species are

regularly used in the production of Chinese Traditional Medicines

an industry now worth billions of $US per year. Biodiversity is a

rich prospecting ground for valuable genetic resources needed to

improve our crops and medicines.

Land colonization along east coast

© WCS

HOW CAN BIODIVERSITY PROTECE LANDSAND PROPERTY ?Coral reefs around China’s southern coastal fringe and around

the South China Sea islets break the surge energy of wave action

and tsunami’s, helping to protect coastlines and coastal proper-

ties from erosion and tidal damage.

Mangroves stabilize silt both protecting the coral from being smoth-

ered but also serving as storm shelter to villages and towns from

typhoons. Coastal grasses and herbs bind loose sand and mud to

form new lands. Along China’s east coast the coastline grows

seawards by several metres per year. These are extremely valu-

able new lands for agriculture and real estate. They are in danger

of being lost back to the sea if either the vegetation is destroyed

or sea level rises too fast as a result of global warming. Shanghai

and Xiamen would fall into this hole.

Ecosystem services that reduce floods, salinization and desertifi-

cation helps protect inland farms and property.

WHAT OTHER BENEFITS DOESBIODIVERSITY PROVIDE ?Healthy ecosystems provide important roles of nutrient recycling,

purification of toxins and pollutants from the air, water and soils.

They provide living laboratories for the education and research

that allows us to deepen our understanding of the nature and

ecology of living things. Wild animals control many pests in our

farms and villages and pollinate our vegetables and fruits. Open

green spaces allow us to unwind from our urban stress to return

spiritually refreshed and with new heart to tackle our daily duties.

Biodiversity Matters20 Questions

WHERE ARE WE ?Address: EU-China Biodiversity Programme

Room 1005, Tengda Plaza

No. 168, Xizhimenwai Street, Haidian District

Beijing, 100044, P.R. China

Fax: (8610) 8857 7811

Email: info@ecbp.cn, vac@ecbp.cn

Poaching and alien weeds

WHAT IS ECBP DOING TO HELP ?The EU-China Biodiversity Programme (ECBP) is a 51 million

cooperative programme between European Union and the Chi-

nese Government with three complementary objectives. The

programme will demonstrate, in the field, ways in which biodiversity

conservation can be integrated into the lifestyles and land-use

patterns of local communities across a wide range of different

ecological conditions in China. Secondly the programme is work-

ing to raise public and government awareness of the importance

of biodiversity and the need to conserve it more effectively. Fi-

nally the programme seeks ways to mainstream these concerns

into the policy and regulatory framework and action plans of na-

tional development.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN THREATS TOBIODIVERSITY IN CHINA ?Due to its huge population and fast economic growth, almost all

useful or valuable species in China are threatened by unsustain-

able over-collection. Habitats are threatened by clearance for other

uses and fragmentation into smaller, more vulnerable, patches.

Many habitats are degraded by drainage, fire- wood collection

and overgrazing. Wild animals are disturbed or displaced by hu-

man activity, dogs, cats or domestic animals. Some habitats are

heavily polluted and important waterways are blocked by a multi-

tude of dams and weirs that prevent passage between spawning

areas and feeding areas for many fish and amphibians. Degraded

lands are vulnerable to alien invasive species. Where lands have

been set aside as nature reserves, levels of management and law

enforcement remains weak. The situation is made worse because

public and local government alike fail to realize the importance of

biodiversity in underpinning their economic development.

WHAT USE ARE WILD ANIMALS ?Animals control the health and balance of ecosystems. Carnivores

preserve the balance between herbivores and plants. Herbivores

control the succession of vegetation. Bats and insects serve as

vital pollinating agents for many plants including fruits and veg-

etables we eat and flowers we admire. Animals act as seed dis-

persal agents for many plants. Water snails purify the water. Birds,

frogs, ants, spiders and dragonflies control insect herbivorous pests

that could threaten forests and crops as well as mosquito larvae

that threaten human health. Animals serve as indicators of envi-

ronmental welfare. When they disappear we are warned that some-

thing serious is going wrong.

© John MacKinnon

© John MacKinnon© WCS

© WCS

WHO CARES IF WE LOSE SPECIES ?Our lives are greatly en-

riched by wild animals and

plants. Humans have em-

braced wildlife into their

cultures and art for

centuries. We take inspi-

ration from the tiger and

the eagle, we admire the

intelligence of the dolphin

and the elephant, the

cunning of the fox and the speed of the gazelle. We love the

sweet song of birds, the smell of flowers and the gay flight of

colourful butterflies. For centuries Chinese monks have sought

quiet natural areas to meditate and seek peace. Different ethnic

minorities and religions respect animal life. Much that is sacred

and important in their daily lives is at risk. Local people depen-

dent on species lose their income.

WHAT HAPPENS TO ECOSYSTEMS IFSPECIES ARE LOSE ?An ecosystem is like a building with many parts. You can remove

bricks and beams from the building without apparent collapse but

each removal weakens the entire structure, rendering the building

more vulnerable in the event of storm or earthquake. Holes allow

wind and rain to penetrate the structure and degrade it faster.

Eventually if we continue removing parts the building will collapse.

Just so as we remove

spe c i e s f rom an

ecosystem, it becomes

more fragi le, less

b a l a n c e d , l e s s

productive, more vul-

nerable to disease, in-

vasion by exotic weeds

or pests and eventually

it will degrade and

collapse.

© WWF

WHY SHOULD WE PRESERVEAGRO-BIODIVERSITY ?Chinese eating is all about variety. We enjoy many types of meats,

many types of vegetables - agro-biodiversity. Even within species

we need many varieties. Food security of rice and maize depends

on maintaining hundreds of local varieties each adapted to differ-

ent regions and conditions of China. The more variety we maintain

the more options are open to plant breeders and genetic engineers

to keep up production, reduce dependence on water and fertilizer,

increase disease resistance and adapt our crops and domestic ani-

mals to changing conditions such a climate change. There is a dan-

ger local farmers will abandon ‘old’ varieties in favour of the new

products of the green revolution. We must ensure there is motiva-

tion and compensation for broadening the genepool and maintain-

ing the gene-lines of all the varieties we can.

© WCS© WCS

© GTZ