Disaster brought by heavy rains of Typhoon Haitang and Matsa in the summer
of 2005 ruined its habitat and washed out many fry.^50
CRITICAL HABITAT
The habitat of a species is the place it resides; critical habitat refers to space
essential to survival of the species. The threats to China’s biodiversity
introduced in Chapter 1 directly pressure species, such as the overexploitation
and utilization of animal, plant, and fish resources. Yet most threats to
biodiversity are those that have an adverse impact on habitats, for example
uncontrolled deforestation, overgrazing of range lands, pollution of the land,
air, and water, and human activities such as mining and wetland reclamation.
In this section we briefly survey the changes to habitats in China’s three
major ecosystems: forest, wetlands and oceans. The discussion refers
primarily to China, but much of it applies to Taiwan as well. In each ecosystem
area, we ask about the nature of the change, and the response of governments
and other organizations.
Forests
Harkness notes in his review of changes to China’s forests: ‘Forests are
the most important ecosystems in China, in terms of the sheer diversity of
species they harbor and the essential goods and ecosystem services they
supply’.^51 Notwithstanding this importance, China’s forests have been severely
challenged by modernization and political change. As noted in Chapter 2,
during the Great Leap Forward (1958–60) forests were cut to fuel the mass
iron and steel smelting campaign. In the Cultural Revolution, following the
Dazhai model, peasants cut forests to establish more farms and increase grain
production. Following the onset of economic reform, forests were cut to meet
economic development needs. As a result, in less than five decades, almost
half of China’s forests were destroyed. China’s forests now cover 134 million
hectares, just under 14 percent of the nation’s land area. However, few old
growth (or virgin) forests remain, and those are at risk.
The state has responded to massive deforestation with equally large-scale
reforestation and afforestation programs. Table 3.3 below presents an
overview of seven afforestation programs.
Four of these programs warrant further mention:^52
- Natural Forest Protection Program (or National Greening Campaign) –
this program includes a complete logging ban in the upper reaches of the
Yangtze River and the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River;
Current status of species and ecosystems 55