自然保护地体系 (zìrán bǎohùdì tǐxì): Natural areas protection system

The Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council have jointly issued a guidance document on the construction of a system for the protection of natural areas.

In the past more than six decades, China has established more than 11,800 protected natural areas since the country's first protected natural area was designated in 1956. They cover 18 percent of China's land area and 4.6 percent of China's sea area. These protected natural areas play a significant role in safeguarding the nation's ecological security, protecting its biological diversity, preserving its natural heritage and improving its ecological environment. But many have lacked proper planning at inception and are failing to truly protect biodiversity.

China's protected natural areas are divided into three kinds: national parks, preservation zones and nature reserves. The new guidance aims to build a protection system for natural areas centered on national parks.

According to the guidance document, by 2020 a unified classified management system for protected natural areas should be built; by 2025 a protection system for natural areas centered on national parks should be basically established; and by 2035 a comprehensive system for protecting natural areas should be in place.