Rainforest Conservation in China

The tropical rainforest on Hainan Dao covers 6,593 square kilometers.

The rainforest's elevation ranges from 40 meters to over 1,800 meters above sea level, including the highest point, Wuzhishan.

Rainforests above 800 meters elevation on Hainan Dao.

The Hainan rainforest has a maritime tropical monsoon climate with long hot summers and short mild winters, marked by high rainfall concentrated in the summer.

The rainforest on Hainan Dao contains over 4,600 plant species, 15% of China's total plant species, with 600 endemic species (unique to Hainan).

The rainforest is home to over 570 animal species. About 7% of China's total. This includes the Hainan gibbon, which is critically endangered.

The Hainan Gibbon is one of the rarest animals in the rainforest, with only an estimated 37 individuals left in 2023.

The rainforest displays a complex structure with emergent layers reaching as high as 40 meters.

Rainforests are broken into smaller, isolated pieces when vast areas are cut down.

Loss of plant and animal species due to deforestation. Species diversity in cleared areas is significantly lower than in natural forests.

Animals, like tigers and gibbons, face increased risk of extinction due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Plantations (like rubber or tea) produce less soil nutrients, increase soil acidity, and make it harder for the forest to regrow. Chemicals used in plantations damage the soil.

Reduced rainfall patterns, reduced fog and humidity changes in Xishuangbanna's rainforest due to deforestation and plantation development.

Plantations (like rubber or tea) have less plant material (biomass) and return fewer nutrients to the soil compared to natural rainforest.

Government efforts to preserve rainforests in southern China, including establishing protected areas and promoting ecotourism, have slowed rainforest cover loss.

Designated nature reserves and national parks in southern China, restricting development and protecting endangered species.

The rate at which primary rainforest cover is being lost in Southern China has decreased in recent years.

A form of tourism in protected areas of southern China that supports conservation and provides economic benefits.

Tropical rainforests are important national assets contributing to ecological and resource security, and the well-being of citizens.

The reduction in the amount of original rainforest in Southern China.

Deforestation was the most significant environmental issue during that period.

Nature reserves in this region are separate, not connected.

This national park is a single, continuous area.

A large, continuous area allows better wildlife protection by enabling animals to move and ensures a broader habitat.

Individual actions like supporting sustainable firms, donating to environmental groups, sharing awareness, ecotourism, and tree planting.

Using trees and crops together in farming on plantations to improve soil, reduce pests/diseases, and increase income.

Agroforestry practices can help reduce economic damage in areas close to plantations.

Agroforestry helps preserve the living environment for the people living near the plantations.

Agroforestry in plantations helps to improve the productivity of the soil.

Setting up and managing agroforestry involves significant costs and oversight.

Successful agroforestry needs special skills and modern techniques.

Plantations using agroforestry have lower plant variety compared to natural forests.

Using less paper is one way individuals can help protect rainforests.

Choosing products made with materials not harming the rainforest.

A type of ecotourism that involves developing plantations for conservation and tourism, generating income and increasing government revenue.

Strategies to preserve rainforests by preventing illegal logging and promoting sustainable practices in logging.

A measure to protect rainforests, preserving them but potentially affecting economic development by increasing the cost of wood and paper products.

A project aimed at safeguarding natural forests, focusing on conservation and sustainable use.

Ecotourism can create jobs, produce stable income for local communities, increase government revenue, preserve culture, and serve as educational tools.

High management costs, difficulties enforcing laws due to area size, potential environmental harm from tourists and infrastructure development, and disruptions to local communities.

Logging practices that meet market demands while preserving forests and ensuring long-term ecological health.

The clearing of forests for various uses including agriculture, logging and infrastructural projects; affecting the environment.

Planting trees to restore degraded land, often seen as a crucial component in forest conservation and environmental protection and can be challenging due to limited suitable tree species.

Vast areas of rainforest being cut down, creating smaller, isolated pieces of forest.

Loss of plant and animal species due to deforestation, with cleared areas having much lower species diversity.

Animals like tigers and gibbons facing increased extinction risk due to rainforest loss and fragmentation.

Plantations like rubber or tea having smaller biomasses, returning fewer nutrients to the soil, and causing increased acidity. Degradation hinders forest regeneration.

Reduced fog, humidity, and rainfall patterns in Xishuangbanna rainforests, caused by deforestation.

The rate at which primary rainforest cover is being lost in Southern China has decreased in recent years, mainly due to government conservation efforts.

Designated nature reserves or national parks where rainforest development is restricted, aiming to protect endangered species.

A type of tourism in protected areas that supports conservation and provides economic benefits.

The efforts to protect tropical rainforests, considering their ecosystem services, ecological security and human well-being.

Reduced plant growth and forest regeneration occurs especially during the winter or dry season in tropical rainforests.