The amount of protest generated concerning Nujiang will doubtless have an
impact on future hydropower development in China. This nation’s hydro-
electric reserves in 2004 stood at 40 percent of total conventional energy
sources, and its exploitation potential is among the largest in the world.
Hydropower is far less environmentally polluting than coal, and thus it will
likely continue to be rapidly developed. Already on the drawing boards are
plans for a dam at the scenic Hutiaoxia (Leaping Tiger Gorge) on the Jinsha
River in Yunnan Province.^64
To a greater extent than public discussion on the Three Gorges Dam,
Nujiang focused on environmental risks. It also tests the role of new
environmental laws in what remains a personalistic authoritarian system. For
environmental advocates, the case represented ‘one step forward, a half step
backward’,^65 which is a good description of the approach the Chinese State has
taken toward conservation of biodiversity.
CONCLUSIONS
This chapter looks beyond governance to the politics of biodiversity conserva-
tion in China and Taiwan. Emerging from the same imperial tradition of
bureaucratic politics, one might expect considerable similarity in policy and
practice of biodiversity preservation. Indeed, in both Taiwan and China, the
state remains relatively strong and able to determine environmental outcomes,
if there is consensus among the elite. However, both systems have
decentralized powers to provincial (in the case of China) and local govern-
ments, and this has had the effect of fragmenting policy making, as more
interests at different levels compete for resources and influence.
Taiwan has democratized in the last two decades, which means that a large
number of groups are involved in policy making and the processes are far
more transparent. Democracy per se has not led to ‘better’ biodiversity
protection outcomes, however. The Binnan case demonstrates that increased
competitiveness of groups and parties forces some once extreme
environmental groups toward the center in a quasi-presidential system,
because that is where the votes are. The moderation of the DPP’s position was
influenced by its need to attract business support and compete with groups
emphasizing Taiwan’s economic development. Political system characteristics
- Taiwan’s unusual electoral system and the five-power constitution with a
strong presidency – at least partially explain the DPP’s policy reversals on
environmental issues.
Both cases display environmental NGOs as well as scientists actively
engaged in attempts to protect rare species and endangered ecosystems. In the
Nujiang case, ENGOs cooperated with one another, short of forming a firm
Politics and biodiversity conservation 215