EMPOWERING NATURE RESERVES IN SOUTHERN CHINA

The Global Trees Campaign has been active in China since 2005, with the support of Fondation Franklinia. In 2012-14 we are seeking to capitalise on the significant opportunities that our work so far, coupled with Chinese state conservation goals, now offers us

FURTHER INFORMATION

China is a centre for plant diversity, with 10% of the world's plant species. It is also a priority for tree species conservation, with 189 globally threatend tree species, 39 which are critically endangered. Yunann and Guangxi Provinces are high priorities, with, for example, 22 globally threatened (seven Critically endangered) magnolia species and 114 threatened rhododendorons.

China was one of a handful of countries to states its commitment to tree conservation by publishing a National Strategy for Plant Conservation, as called for under the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation of the Convention on Biological Diversity. China has also established a national Small Population Plant Protection Programme (SPPPP), aiming to conserve 120 threatened plants, 80% of which are trees. However, as the State Forestry Adminsitration (SFA) itself recognises, capacity to implement practical in-situ conservation is very limited amongst their forestry and nature reserve staff

The Global Trees Campaign has already achieved some notable outcomes for threatned trees in the high prioirty region of Southern China, especially with threatened magnolia and conifer species. During this work, the low levels of knowledge, skills and species-specific tree conservation interventions have been very evident: for example, in a needs assessment of 63 nature reserves, carried out by GTC in 2010, 80% had no knowledge of their threatened trees or how to protect them.

Recognising GTC's successes, and following a pilot training course for reserve staff at the end of 2010, the SFA are very keen for FFI to assist them in realising their tree conservation goals. We are therefore planning to develop a programme of assistance and support to nature reserves in southern China. Activities will include:

- Training for nature reserve staff
- Financial and Technical support to priority nature reserves to plan and undertake targeted interventions for highly threatened species within their reserves
- Implementation of awareness-raising and livelihood enchancement activities, particularly with local communities
- Development and support of mechanisms to promote collaboration, sharing experiences and lessons learnt
- Support to SFA to deliver goals of SPPPP.

During 2012, we will initiate this support in approximately eight prioirity nature reserves for highly threatned trees, in total hosting 2-3 highly endangered confiers and up to 13 threatened magnolias. Reserve staff will be supported and mentored to develop initiatives for their key tree species, including applying to the government's SPPPP for small grants. The involvment of Chinese botanical experts from Universities, research institutions and Botanic Gardens will be facilitated, and an on-line resource centre and forum for staff to share experiences will be launched

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