Field workers use GIS to collect information on the giant panda and its habitat.

Panda Conservation Strategic Action is composed of projects that support surveys and studies on panda-conservation-related issues and coordinate cross-cutting issues such as ecotourism, monitoring and patrolling and community development in order to influence policy changes.

The Third National Survey on the Giant Panda and Its Habitat was launched in 1999 and completed in 2003. The survey covered 55 counties in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces with an area of over 55,000 square km. Several hundred people were involved in the survey, which included data collection on natural resources in the panda habitat as well as the socio-economic status of people living in the panda range. This survey also helped to train a number of technical personnel for panda conservation in the future. The latest information obtained from the survey will guide the development of a new conservation strategy for the giant panda. It will also provide experiences for the conservation of other endangered species in China.

Fieldworkers traverse dangerous terrain when conducting panda surveys.

Monitoring biodiversity in the panda habitat will provide up-to-date insights into panda population trends and help identify emerging issues and threats that require immediate response. WWF has been supporting regular monitoring in 15 panda reserves and two forest farms (forest areas where commercial activities take place) in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu. WWF has sponsored workshops to promote the exchange of experiences amongst reserve managers to encourage more effective conservation approaches and identify new issues. On the basis of the national survey, WWF hopes to promote the establishment of a dynamic panda conservation database for tracking and analysing information critical to the long-term protection of the species and its fragmented habitat.

Up until 2003, WWF has cooperated with Peking University, the Beijing Forestry University, Development and Research Centre of the State Council, Qinghua University, the Chinese Academy of Forestry, the Chinese Academy of Agriculture and the Forest Planning Institution of China on various research projects on panda habitat fragmentation, restoration, the impact of the Great Western China Development (a government program to accelerate economic development in western China) and the effect of climate change on panda habitats. This research will help to analyse conservation threats, assess the status of habitat fragmentation, develop criteria and indicators, and to propose effective strategies for panda conservation.

Scientists analyze information collected during a panda survey.

To increase the capacity of nature reserve staff, WWF has sponsored over 100 reserve and forest enterprises staff in Shaanxi and over 60 reserve staff in Sichuan to participate in professional training on wildlife protection and reserve management since 2001. This training has provided frontline staff with an opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills on wildlife protection and reserve management.

In December 2001, Wanglang and Baishuihe Panda Reserves became national reserves after passing the appraisal of the State Environmental Protection Administration. These two reserves received technical and financial support from WWF.

Program news

China's 3rd National Panda Survey results