China's national parks have made initial progress in promoting ecological protection, institutional building and human-nature harmony, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The nation's first five national parks are marking their one-year anniversary since they were established in October 2021.

These national parks span across 10 provinces and regions of China, dedicated to preserve important wildlife sanctuaries as well as precious species such as giant pandas and Siberian tigers.

According to Xinhua, the national parks have contributed to the systemic protection of China's ecology. For example, 73 Protected Natural Areas in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces joined together to create the Giant Panda National Park, connecting the fragmented habitats and allowing genetic exchanges among different groups of giant pandas. The Siberian Tiger National Park of northeast China's Jilin and Heilongjiang Provinces has been carrying out cooperation with Russia, offering cross-border corridors to the world's biggest cat and allowing them to settle down in China's forest before their population could grow.

The national parks are also reported to have made progress in exploring a path that could protect the ecology while improving local residents' life. Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park on south China's Hainan Island has been relocating villagers and developing alternative industries such as growing mushroom and tea trees. Many villagers are now able to receive the dividends earned from these industries and improve their life.

Xinhua also reported that the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the organ in charge of the nation's ecological conservation efforts, is pushing ahead legislation on national parks. A draft law on national parks has been released for public review.

China announced the establishment of five national parks at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity on October 12, 2021.

These parks include the Three-River-Source National Park located in northwest China's Qinghai Province; Giant Panda National Park in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces; Siberian Tiger National Park of northeast China's Jilin and Heilongjiang Provinces; Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in south China's Hainan Province, Wuyishan National Park of east China's Fujian and Jiangxi provinces.

The parks cover an area of nearly 230,000 square kilometers, offering sanctuary to nearly 30 percent of protected terrestrial species.

(All images via VCG)

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