A Boost in Biodiversity: More National Parks, Better Wildlife Protection

From the creation of a new fund to the establishment of national parks, the government of China is investing massively and internationally to protect biodiversity, and consequently, precious and precarious wildlife species.

“By expanding its national parks system, China is also putting a focus on conservation efforts domestically, which is particularly important as the country continues to rapidly urbanize and grow,” says Xiaohai Liu, chief representative of Conservation International in China.

Through the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, China is investing $320 million to help conservation efforts in developing countries. The Chinese government also plans on creating national parks across the country that will cover some 230,000 square kilometers, thus protecting 30% of terrestrial wildlife species such as pandas, tigers, and leopards. Both these executive decisions are praised by conservation groups. Earlier, China has opted to stop funding coal projects abroad, another major environmental decision.