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Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering

ISSN 2095-7505

ISSN 2095-977X(Online)

CN 10-1204/S

Postal Subscription Code 80-906

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Front. Agr. Sci. Eng.    2017, Vol. 4 Issue (4) : 376-379    https://doi.org/10.15302/J-FASE-2017186
REVIEW
Ecological conservation, remediation and construction for building an ecological civilization in China: concepts for ecological activity
Guofang SHEN()
Chinese Academy of Engineering and Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100091, China
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Abstract

This paper explains and discusses the concepts of ecological conservation and construction in China in three parts. The first part provides a brief description of the historical background of ecological activities in China and their major achievements in the past. The second part is a comprehensive review of various types of ecological control activity aimed at the improvement of natural and artificially established ecosystems at the landscape, regional (watershed) and higher levels. The scope of and differences between some ecological terms used in China such as ecological protection, conservation, remediation (rehabilitation), restoration as well as the reestablishment of new ecosystems are elaborated. The review suggests that the term “ecological conservation and construction” should be used to embrace all types of ecological control activity in China. Finally, five guidelines are proposed for promoting the implementation of ecological conservation and construction in China based on the two important governmental documents related to the development of ecological civilization in China.
Corresponding Author(s): Guofang SHEN   
Just Accepted Date: 30 November 2017   Online First Date: 14 December 2017    Issue Date: 10 December 2017
 Cite this article:   
Guofang SHEN. Ecological conservation, remediation and construction for building an ecological civilization in China: concepts for ecological activity[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2017, 4(4): 376-379.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/10.15302/J-FASE-2017186
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/Y2017/V4/I4/376
Level of degradation Type of ecological activity for natural ecosystems (forest, grassland, desert, wetland, water and ocean)
Primitive or nearly primitive natural ecosystems (no degradation) Preservation under protection in the different types of protected area, with a strong emphasis on biodiversity preservation
Slightly degraded Conservation of natural ecosystems with limited supportive measures, such as human-assisted regeneration and maintenance
Severely degraded and damaged Remediation (rehabilitation) of natural ecosystems with more radical measures, including introduction or change of the dominant species, and change of the composition and structure of the vegetation (reconstruction), and amelioration of hydrological and soil conditions
Totally destroyed Restoration of formerly existing ecosystems by simulating original systems according to available knowledge, or establishing new ones in accordance with the current climate, topographic and soil conditions
Tab.1  Categories and types of ecological activity for natural ecosystems
Categories of ecosystem Type of ecological activity
Fields (cultivated farmland) and pastures Soil remediation and amelioration, establishment of shelterbelt systems, agroforestry practices, and ecological (circulative) agriculture
Cities and towns (urban areas) Tree planting in urban and suburban areas, and other
urban forestry practices, landscape architecture (gardening), indoor courtyard greening and vertical greening (including rooftops), river and lake restoration, coastal ecosystem protection and restoration, and artificial ecological development in artificially-reclaimed coastlands
Infrastructure construction sites Abandoned and subsided mine remediation, industrial brownfield remediation/restoration, greening of active industrial sites, remediation of sites damaged by road, rail, water and power supply infrastructure construction, water reservoir shoreline rehabilitation, and green way system establishment
Tab.2  Categories and types of ecological activity for artificially-established ecosystems
Level and scale of ecosystem Type of ecological activity
Landscape Land use planning, regulation of the size and types of ecosystem or components to be harmoniously compatible within a landscape
Medium and small watersheds Conservation, remediation and, sometimes, establishment of new ecosystems (e.g., afforestation and grassland establishment) on the basis of rational land use patterns
Region
(major river basin or mountain area, ocean or coastal zone)		 Land use regulation on a broad scale, with ecological improvements for each ecosystem component and consideration of ecosystem linkages, synergies and other impacts, policies for institutional and financial support
Global biosphere Emphasis on biodiversity preservation, especially for species and ecosystems of global or regional concern, plus comprehensive measures for expansion of biological carbon sinks, with concurrent reduction of carbon and other pollutant emissions
Tab.3  Categories and types of ecological activity for ecosystems at higher levels (landscapes, watersheds, regions and global biosphere)
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