Enhancing Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas through Networking and CASE STUDY 27 Implementation of the “Ecological Red-line” Policy Case Study 27 Enhancing Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas through Networking and Implementation of the “Ecological Red-line” Policy Zhang Zhaohui* First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration Qingdao, Peoples’ Republic of China, 266061 for migratory birds and nursing grounds Key Message for various marine species. The city government implemented a comprehensive • The “ecological red-line” policy can ICM program and adopted a holistic be an effective tool for biodiversity and vision-oriented approach and a conservation in conjunction with working model for integrated planning, zoning permit fees and a “zoning pay- coordination, and management. Dongying back” scheme. These are innovative successfully hosted and implemented a financing options that can be used to natural nature reserve (NNR) and five support marine protected areas (MPA) special marine protected areas (SMPA) in management and operation. close cooperation with national agencies. It effectively utilized zoning permit fees from its functional zoning scheme to Abstract support and build up management capacity. This section is part of the book: The Dongying initiatives verified the Chua, T.-E., L.M. Chou, G. Jacinto, Dongying City is located in the Yellow S.A. Ross, and D. Bonga. (Editors). effectiveness of utilizing the “ecological red- 2018. Local Contributions to Global River estuary. The area is recognized as line” policy to support preservation of the Sustainable Agenda: Case Studies in ecologically significant, with nesting sites Yellow River delta. Integrated Coastal Management in the East Asian Seas Region. Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and Coastal Management Center (CMC), Quezon City, Philippines. * Email: [email protected] 319 CASE STUDY 27 Background Approach and Methodology Dongying is a coastal city located in the estuary Recognizing the ecological importance of of the Yellow River (Figure 1). The city hosts the Yellow River, the national government the second largest oil industry in PR China established the Yellow River Delta National and is also one of the cities in northern China Nature Reserve, on the northeast coast of the with a rapidly developing marine economy city (Figure 2). In addition, five national SMPA (Hou, 2011). The local government efforts were established between 2008 and 2009 (Figure in ensuring sustainable use of the coastal 3). SMPA is defined as “any special geographical and marine resources were greatly enhanced space identified for special marine economic with the implementation of a comprehensive development administered and managed ICM program. The setting up of an MPA through effective protection of the ecosystem and functional zoning was an integral part of and sustainable use of the living and non-living the ICM program under the leadership and resources therein using appropriate scientific coordination of the local government. This approaches” (SOA, 2005). In total, Dongying case study showcases the development and set up six national MPA, including one NNR, networking of the MPA and the application (i.e. the Yellow River Delta National Nature 2 of the national “ecological red-line” policy Reserve, 1,530 km ); and five national SMPA 2 within the broader framework of the local ICM including those for shellfish in Hekou (396 km ), 2 program. for benthic fish in Lijin (94 km ), Yellow River Figure 1. Dongying City at the estuary of Yellow River. B o h a i S e a Dongying Port Hekou District Yellow River Delta Natural Nature Reserve Y e l l o w R i v e r Lijin Country Kenli District Dongying Airport B o h a i China University of Petroleum S e a Dongying District Dongying City Guangrao Country 320 Enhancing Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas through Networking and CASE STUDY 27 Implementation of the “Ecological Red-line” Policy Figure 2. The Yellow River Delta NNR. Experimental zone Core zone Buffer zone Figure 3. The five SMPA in Dongying City. Dongying City 321 CASE STUDY 27 Estuary Ecologic SMPA (926 km2), for mussel and restoration in the Yellow and Pearl River in Laizhou Bay (210 km2), and for clam worm in Estuaries” (GEF, 2009). Guangrao (65 km2). The main differences between an NNR and an SMPA lie in their objectives, In the communiqué of the Third Plenary Session scope, standards, zoning schemes, protection and of the 18th Communist Party of China Central management tasks, approving government agency, Committee, a proposal was put forward to and environment requirements (Table 1). establish an “ecological red-line” as a policy for regulating human activities in areas of ecological Dongying City actively participated in a significance. This was supported by the Chinese Global Environment Facility (GEF) Project leadership, which directed the drawing up of on “Demonstration of Estuarine Biodiversity a “red line” for ecological protection and the Conservation, Restoration and Protected Area development of an economic compensation Networking in China” to strengthen local capacity system based on the user pay principle. This in managing MPA. The project’s specific objective policy focused on enhancing the management was “to mainstream the conservation of estuarine and protection of identified ecologically important biodiversity into economic development plans areas by controlling the use of coastal zones. In and to develop a series of best practices. The best 2012, SOA finalized and announced the Bohai practices were based on experiences derived Sea Marine Ecological Red-line Zoning Plan, from field activities focusing on the creation of which clearly identified zones for restricted and protected area networks and wetland conservation prohibited developments (Figure 4). Table 1. Main differences between NNR and SMPA*. Difference National Nature Reserve (NNR) Special Marine Protected Area (SMPA) Designation Strict restrictions on human uses (NRC, 2001) Conservation and appropriate multiple use (SOA, 1992) objectives Designation Focus primarily on original, valuable, and natural Focus primarily on sustainable development and multiple scope habitats and species uses of marine resources Designation Social and economic developments are not Socioeconomic, natural resources and ecological standards taken into consideration environment aspects are covered Zoning Core zone, buffer zone, and experimental zone No take zone, sustainable resource use zone, ecological schemes are included restoration zone and reserved zone are included. Protection and Main focus is on constraint enforcement and Cover many aspects in marine resource sustainable management closure management in terms of different zones development such as marine development plan, and tasks optimization of marine industrial structure Government 3 relevant materials for NNR establishment Relevant materials for SMPA establishment application agency for application are submitted to the State Council are submitted to the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) approval for final approval and declaration (Qui, et al., for final approval and declaration (Qui, et al., 2009) 2009) Environmental Should meet >Grade I, which is the strictest Depends on actual requirement of marine function requirements standard (SOA, 2012) zones, which means less restricted and more flexible than that of NNRs (SOA, 2012) * Table modified from China’s SMPA policy: trade-off between economic development and marine conservation(Ma, et al., 2013). 322 Enhancing Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas through Networking and CASE STUDY 27 Implementation of the “Ecological Red-line” Policy Figure 4. Marine ecological red-line zoning plan of Dongying City. Prohibited development zone Restricted development zone for utilizing a “sea use pay-back” scheme. The Results five SMPA were able to secure a total of RMB 39.73 million (US$ 6.3 million) from 2011 to Formation of a local MPA network. The NNR 2012. This fund was used primarily for capacity and five SMPA were able to form a local MPA development and ecological restoration. The network around Dongying City. This network management capacity of the MPA significantly played an important role in regional biodiversity improved through the use of monitoring conservation and protection, particularly for cameras, law enforcement instruments, and a migratory birds and fish(Sun, et al., 2015; Zhai, geographic information system. The biomass of et al., 2015). Several scientific research projects protected targets increased through the control were also undertaken to establish the biological of human activities and the release of fingerlings linkage of MPA in the region to be more efficient of four species of fish. The water quality also and effective in conserving their biodiversity improved through artificial wetlands restoration values. in the Yellow River Estuary Ecologic SMPA, an important spawning ground for crab and Improvement of MPA management capacity. After shrimp in Bohai Sea. Through these efforts, the establishment of SMPA, each management the effectiveness of MPA improved over the office started to raise funds for undertaking years and the damaged habitats were finally improved management measures of the MPA. restored. With the experiences gained, the The offices developed project proposals and overall planning for NNR and SMPA was finally secured the approval of the central government completed and approved in 2014. 323 CASE STUDY 27 Figure 5. The oriental