Chengdu, Sichuan, China - Over 20 ecotourism experts, government officials, WWF experts, and local stakeholders recently attended a workshop aimed at drafting an ecotourism plan for the Zharugou Valley within the Jiuzhaigou World Heritage Site. The meeting was organized by managers of the Jiuzhagou State Nature Reserve and facilitated by WWF field staff in Chengdu on August 1.

Covering an area of 5290 sq km in northern Sichuan province, the rugged valleys and mountains of Jiuzhaigou are home to 140 bird species and a number of endangered plant and animal species, including the giant panda, golden monkey and the Sichuan takin. Reaching an altitude of 4,800 m, the area comprises diverse forest ecosystems.

Jiuzhaigou became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. It is now a popular tourist site in China, known for its lakes, waterfalls, snow-capped peaks and Tibetan and Qiang culture. Attracting an average of more than 7000 tourists per day, the tourism industry here generates a large amount of revenue for Jiuzhaigou management authorities.

Within Jiuzhaigou, the Zharugou Valley, with an area of 106 sq km, was recently opened to tourists and is the focus of the ecotourism plan. The area shares a boundary with Baihe nature reserve, which is an important habitat for the endangered golden monkey. A recent investigation found that mass tourism to Zharugou would not only negatively impact Zharugou, but also Baihe and other surrounding nature reserves. However, small-scale eco-tourism (as compared to mass tourism) would greatly minimize the impact to the biodiversity within the new site and nearby reserves. Endangered species including the golden monkeys, musk deer, Tibetan brown bear, leopard and takin live in and around Zharugou.

At the workshop, Jiuzhaigou’s managers and other participants reached an agreement on the main principles for developing ecotourism in the Zharugou area, including limiting tourists to the area, limiting road construction and other impacts on the environment, increasing the participation of local communities, and providing educational opportunities for visitors to learn about nature.

Participants also discussed a draft ecotourism plan and experts provided relevant data on the status of the area’s economy, wildlife and local population, with an emphasis on Tibetan culture.

At the workshop, Uttara Crees, an international ecotourism expert invited by WWF, introduced concepts of international ecotourism development and how to implement them. In addition, a case study on Wanglang National Panda Nature Reserve, also in Sichuan Province, was introduced by Mr.Jiang Shiwei, the reserve’s manager. Tourism in Wanglang, which is also a habitat of the giant panda, is increasing rapidly, from a total of 1000 tourists in 1997 to 20,000 in 2002. A WWF project here is working to improve tourism activities so that the industry’s impact does not become a negative one. In 2001, Wanglang National Nature Reserve was certified by Nature and Ecotourism Accreditation Program (NEAP), an international ecotourism accreditation organization that identifies genuine ecotourism and nature-based tourism operators.

Jiuzhaigou is one of seven priority for WWF China’s Minshan Initiative project, which aims to increase the extent and quality of forests in the Minshan Mountains for the benefit of key species, in particular the giant panda, while enhancing the livelihood security of local communities. The project’s recent socio-economic investigation revealed that tourism development is a big challenge to biodiversity conservation in this area. WWF aims to help promote best practice on ecotourism in Jiuzhaigou.

Inappropriate tourism developments and practices degrade habitats and landscapes, deplete natural resources, and generate waste and pollution. Ecotourism, as defined by the International Tourism Society, is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well being of local people. This includes improved planning, management, marketing, and regulation; and ensuring equitable distribution of benefits to all stakeholders.

For further information:

An Yan, Information Coordinator, WWF China Programme. Tel: 86-10-8563 6538 ext 224. Fax: 86-10-8561 5731. Email: yan@wwfchina.org