Abstract:

China Nature Watch 2014 is an independent report on the status of China’s biodiversity conservation over the past decade, based on data accumulated by the Center for Nature and Society of Peking University, the Shanshui Conservation Center and the China Bird Watching Society Networks and on data obtained from the public domain. The report included trends of forest cover from 2000 to 2013 based on an interpretation of Global Forest Watch dataset; the distribution pattern, conservation and research on the most concerned endangered species; and the coverage of protected areas with respect to endangered species and forests. Research also revealed that information collected by citizen scientists filled significant gaps in species baseline data. Small protected areas managed by local residents could be an effective alternative to meet the conservation needs of endangered species in populated eastern China. Long-term ecological research and monitoring, and information transparency are urgently needed for biodiversity conservation in China.

Key words: biodiversity, species, forest, nature reserve, conservation policy, public participation