China advances ecological conservation through national park system

China has made remarkable progress in building its national park system over the past five years, with the country's first batch of five national parks making significant contributions to ecosystem and biodiversity protection.

Established in 2021, the five national parks together cover 230,000 square kilometers and protect nearly 30 percent of the country's key protected terrestrial wild fauna and flora species. They have integrated over 120 existing nature reserves, significantly improving the diversity, stability, and sustainability of ecosystems.

The Sanjiangyuan National Park has achieved holistic protection of the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers. Over the past five years, the water volume flowing downstream has increased by 50 percent, reaching 90 billion cubic meters, effectively safeguarding the "Water Tower of China" and the lifeline of Asia's water ecology.

The Giant Panda National Park has unified and connected the country's main habitats and breeding areas of wild giant pandas, giving the rare species a more expansive and comfortable home.

In the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, the wild tiger population has risen from 27 in 2017 – when the pilot program began – to about 70 today, while the number of wild leopards has grown from 42 to around 80 during the same period.

The Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park has seen the once nearly extinct Hainan gibbon become the only gibbon species in the world with a continuously increasing population.

The Wuyishan National Park now serves as the most complete mid-subtropical forest gene bank in the world at its latitude.

Beyond these environmental benefits, the parks have also brought tangible gains to local communities. Nearly 50,000 residents have found jobs related to the parks close to home, with each person earning an annual salary of between 10,000 and 20,000 yuan ($1,400-2,800).

This August, China completed the registration of property rights for its first five national parks – a key milestone in strengthening ecological conservation. The registration outlines the scope of authority for various government levels, clarifies ownership, oversight, and responsibilities regarding natural resources, and enhances property rights management in national parks.

Moreover, Chinese lawmakers have passed the country's first law on national parks to preserve the authenticity and integrity of natural ecosystems under a rigorous legal framework. The 63-article law is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.