Locals Benefit from Ecological Protection

Rock forest at Banbiyan

"Hey, I found an injured animal near Banbiyan. I need help, please hurry!"

A few days ago, Xiaolongtan Wildlife Rescue Station of Shennongjia National Park received a call reporting an injured wild animal. The staff of the rescue station immediately went to the scene and found an injured Chinese Goral, a species under second-class State protection, near Banbiyan in Shennongding area.

"We receive dozens of such calls every year," said Jiang Jun, a staff member of the Xiaolongtan Rescue Station, adding that people have become increasingly aware of wildlife protection in recent years and poaching has almost stopped. The fact that fishermen and poachers have become ecological guardians is a perfect example of the effectiveness of the ecological conservation initiatives implemented in Shennongjia National Park over the years.

Since strict ecological protection has created a better home for wildlife, how can people share benefits from ecological protection of the Park?

The answer is that Shennongjia National Park insists on sharing and integration, and promotes community co-development and co-management. The Park signed the Village Collective Resource Management and Conservation Agreement with 25 administrative villages in 5 townships under its jurisdiction, paying part-time rangers RMB 1.55 million per year for ecological resource management and conservation to incorporate village in ecological protection, and furthermore, to make part-time ecological management job opportunities play its role in "promoting protection, increasing income and stabilizing employment".

"I won't even hurt a wild boar that eats crops in my field," said Zhao Yuanjiu, a villager of Xiangsiling Village in Xiagu Township. An agricultural disaster insurance and a commercial insurance against wildlife hazard allow villagers to grow any crop with no worries.

In July 2018, Shennongjia piloted people-benefit ecological insurance within the national park, for which commercial insurance against wildlife damage, migratory bird predation and natural disasters was purchased for crops and Chinese herbs planted and bees raised in the five townships under its jurisdiction. In March 2021, this best practice was introduced to the entire Shennongjia, with claims ranging from 40% to 100% depending on the growth cycle in which the damaged crop was grown. With the ecological compensation for forest land, commercial agricultural insurance against wildlife hazard, and subsidies for communities to replace firewood with electricity, the local people have benefited from Shennongjia National Park in a practical way.

In 2021, Shennongjia National Park invested RMB 1,962,100 in commercial insurance premiums against wildlife hazard, providing risk coverage of RMB 78.13 million, compensating community farmers a total of RMB 3,103,000, and distributing subsidies of RMB 1,431,000 to replace firewood with electricity. In 2021, a total of RMB 48,344,300 was invested in infrastructure construction, business development, ecological compensation, ecological migration and rural revitalization. The franchise was also granted to support some enterprises to develop eco-tourism and green economy, driving employment and promoting industrial transformation.

"Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," said Liu Jianxiong. Shennongjia National Park always puts ecological protection in the first place and is acting for the philosophy. We are getting closer to the ideal magnificence of nature.