engaging local people to support wetland conservation in...

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Engaging local people to support wetland conservation in South China Fion Cheung Conservation Officer (South China wetlands) Solutions for a living planet

Photo: © Bena Smith

Solutions for a living planet

Mai Po Nature

Reserve

Engaging local people to support wetland conservation in South China

Presentation to Suncheon International Conference on WLI and Wetland Conservation

Wetland Management Training Programme


• Started in 1991

• Site managers and decision makers related to the management and conservation of wetlands along the EAA Flyway

• 8-day training at Mai Po Nature Reserve – Introduction of Ramsar; – Wetland management work in Mai Po; – Wetland monitoring; – Wetland restoration; – Preparation of wetland management plan

• ~150 per year



Wetland Management Training Programme


• “The content of the training is good but the situation of our nature reserve is much more complicated than Mai Po…”

• “…don’t know whether I can use the knowledge directly in our site…”

• “Local communities living inside the nature reserve burden our wetland management work…”

• “We face difficulties in dealing with the local government and local communities…”



HSBC/WWF South China Wetlands Project


• Started in July 2005 • Models of wetland nature reserve in mainland China




Mai Po NR

Haifeng Bird Provincial NR

Zhangjiang Estuary Mangrove National NR



Importance of the sites


• Stopover/wintering sites of migratory waterbirds at the EAA Flyway

1. Zhangjiang Estuary Mangrove National NR (2,360 ha) – Largest area of natural mangrove in Fujian Province

2. Haifeng Bird Provincial NR (11,588 ha) – >20,000 wintering waterbirds; – Rare bird species (Black-faced Spoonbill, Nordmann’s

Greenshank, Purple Swamphen)











Black-faced Spoonbill

Purple Swamphen

Specific difficulties in Zhangjiang Estuary NR


• About 10,000 people living in 2 villages next to the NR

• Human disturbance – Harvesting mudflat products (razor clam); – Intensive aquaculture on mudflat

• Unwise use of mudflat– Env. unfriendly aquaculture method

Co-management + Alternative income




Co-management


Step 1: Conduct socio-economic survey



Co-management


Step 1: Conduct socio-economic survey - Great economic dependency on the mudflat in terms of razor clam raising; - Key source of human disturbance

Step 2: Review the current razor clam raising practices and techniques on mudflat - Bring a lot of human disturbance; - Use of env. harmful insecticide (Triazophos)



Co-management


Step 1: Conduct socio-economic survey - Great economic dependency on the mudflat in terms of razor clam raising; - Key source of human disturbance

Step 2: Review the current razor clam raising practices and techniques on mudflat - Bring a lot of human disturbance; - Use of env. harmful insecticide (Triazophos)

Step 3: Explore more sustainable ways in raising razor clam with lesser human disturbance - Raise razor clam in ponds




Co-management


Step 4: Organize study tours to other razor clam pond- raising sites - learn skills and techniques to improve the income

Step 5: Publication of Razor Clam Culture and the Control of Water Colour - Guide the pond-raising process



Co-management


Step 6: Stop the use of env. harmful insecticide Step 7: Replace it by substitute - Prove the effectiveness of the substitute by experiment; - Substitute: Better profit + faster recovery of benthos; - Regulation: Ban the use of the env. harmful one; - Promote the use of substitute in workshops

No harvest



Alternative income


Step 1: Set up aquaculture experiments multi-trophic VS mono-trophic (crab)

Step 2: Organize training workshops about multi-trophic aquaculture

Step 3: Establish an Aquaculture Association - Exchange experience in operating the multi-trophic aquaculture ponds

>RMB5,000/acre RMB2,500 – 3,000/acre

Alternative income


Step 4: Apply for “Certificate of Non-harmful Aquaculture Products”

• Ecotourism

Unit price Income Multi-trophic



Improve the living standard of local community


1: Develop garbage collection system 2: Build eco-friendly toilets









2. Haifeng Bird Provincial NR (11,588 ha) – >20,000 wintering waterbirds; – Rare bird species (Black-faced Spoonbill, Nordmann’s Greenshank,

Purple Swamphen); – 3 separated parts; – Traditional operation method of aquaculture ponds is beneficial to

both human and wildlife

Traditional operation method


Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct Nov Dec



by Peter Yip



Traditional operation method


Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct Nov Dec

Harvesting

Draining

Sun baking

Specific difficulties in Haifeng NR


Lian’anwei • No control right on land use

• Potential change of aquaculture method from the traditional one to the intensive one

Co-management



Co-management


Step 1: Conduct socio-economic survey - Most families depend on aquaculture (traditional / intensive one) to make a living; - learn the skills from others or by themselves

Step 2: Set up a demonstration site to compare the economic benefits and env. impacts between:

Traditional method

Intensive aquaculture of crab and shrimp

Intensive shrimp monoculture VS VS



Co-management


Economic benefit (RMB/ha)

Risk Adverse environmental Impact

Traditional

Intensive (crab + shrimp)

Intensive shrimp monoculture

19,500 X

5,200 XX

27,800 XXX





Co-management


Step 3: Organize study tours to Mai Po NR - Introduce the wise use concept of wetlands; - Demonstrate how the traditional method is operated in Mai Po; - Learn about the certification of organic produce in HK

Step 4: Organize training workshops for pond operators - Promote the traditional method; - Techniques to improve the water quality in ponds

Step 5: Produce a documentary to promote the merits of the traditional method

Specific difficulties in Haifeng NR


Step 6: Sending samples to check the quality of the produce raised by the traditional method

Step 7: Help promote the produce raised by the traditional method by producing leaflets





Common difficulties faced by management bureau


• Lack of well-trained staff • Lack of a practical management plan • Low public awareness on wetland conservation

1. Training workshops for local educators; 2. Develop Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

strategy for the NR; 3. Build necessary education facilities; 4. Develop education materials; 5. Develop local green schools







strategy for the NR; 3. Build necessary education facilities;







strategy for the NR; 3. Build necessary education facilities; 4. Develop education materials;





• Develop local green schools

Long term protection of the two sites


• 2nd February 2008



Conclusions


• Have a good understanding on the local situation, esp. socio-economic • Explore ways to use wetlands wisely • Engage the local people in the project • Raise public awareness and gain their support

Communication



Thank you

© 2010, WWF. All photographs used in this presentation are copyright protected and courtesy of the WWF-Canon Global Photo Network and the respective photographers.

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Solutions for a living planet Presentation to Suncheon International Conference on WLI and Wetland Conservation

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Photo: © Michel Roggo / WWF-Canon

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