The decade-long conservation achievements and strong determination to continue its administrative performance in Jilin Province was recognized by WWF on November 7, when Wang Min, Governor of Jilin Province and Liu Yanchun, Director General of Jilin Provincial Forestry Department were awarded the Leaders for a Living Planet (LLP) certificate for their outstanding contribution and commitment to conservation.

Encouraged by the award, the Jilin Provincial Government has decided to extend the comprehensive hunting ban, strengthen the management of nature reserves and establish 12 new nature reserves covering an increased area of 280,000 hectares by 2020. Meanwhile, the provincial government has also expressed its strong willingness to continue cooperation with WWF and other international conservation organizations to carry out community-based capacity building education, trans-border protection of endangered species like the Amur tigers and the forest certificate.

"The 10-year Hunting Ban in Jilin Province has largely contributed to the restoration of the population of endangered species with an increasing size of habitats. The decision to carry on the hunting ban will enable the Amur tigers living in the bordering area between China and Russia to enjoy effective protection. With the establishment of WWF's Harbin office, WWF will cooperate on a wider basis with Jilin Provincial Government to further promote the conservation cause in Jilin," said Dermot O'Gorman, WWF-China Country Representative.

Located within the Amur-Heilong ecoregion, Jilin Province is one of China's - and the world's - richest areas in terms of biodiversity that shelters 445 terrestrial wild animals, among which 75 are included in the "List of National Key Protected Wild Animals" in China. The area is also distinguished internationally as an important habitat for Amur tiger, Amur Leopard, spotted dear and oriental white stork.

In the past, due to unsustainable exploration of wildlife resources and the lack of effective conservation methods, the population of wildlife in Jinlin province has decreased noticeably. According to a survey done by Jilin Forestry Bureau in 1998, Amur tigers were only found in 3 isolated areas in the Province, while Amur leopards were found in 2 areas. Only 347 spotted dears were discovered, along China-Russia border at Hunchun.

To halt the deterioration of wildlife and the environment, the Standing Committee of the Ninth Jilin Provincial People's Congress passed the "Provision on Five-year Ban on Terrestrial Wildlife Hunting" on January 26, 1996 to enforce a five-year-long hunting ban within the province. On November 24, 2000, the Provincial People's Congress issued the "Jilin Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee's Decision on the Prohibition of Terrestrial Wildlife Hunting" to extend the implementation of the ban within Jilin. By the end of 2005, the hunting ban has been enforced throughout Jilin Province for a decade.

A total of nine nature reserves covering an area of 597,000 hectares have been established since the hunting ban, along with three small natural protected areas of 2,800 hectares, and 11 national forest parks and five provincial forest parks of an increased area of 184,000 hectares. By now, there are altogether 28 nature reserves totalling 2,232,600 hectares have been established, covering 11.9% of the province's size.

In early 2006, a 6-month survey of terristrial wildlife was organized in Jilin Province. The result shows prominent improvements of wildlife protection in Jilin since the hunting ban. For instance, the numbers of spotted deer and wild boar have increased by 44% and 80% respectively. The rise in the number of prey species has helped the recovery of Amur tiger and leopard populations.

"Jilin Province will integrate the wildlife and wetland protection with the overall course of sustainable social economic development and harmonious coexistence between man and nature in the future. Jilin will uphold the Hunting Ban as a long-term task that will be strictly implemented throughout the province," stated the provincial governor Wang Min at the ceremony.

EDITORS' NOTES:
The Leaders for a Living Planet (LLP) is an international honor bestowed to individuals, who, through their efforts, have played a significant role in conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development.

For further information, please contact:
Tan Rui, Communications Officer, WWF-China
Tel: 6522-7100 ext. 3813
E-mail: rtan@wwfchina.org