Discussion on the Integration and Optimization Plan of Natural Reserve-Take Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture as an example

The integration and optimization of nature reserves is an important part of the new round of land and space planning, and it is also an important part of building a system of nature reserves with national parks as the main body. This article takes Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, which has many nature reserves and relatively complex conditions as an example, to summarize and study the technical and operational issues involved in the integration and optimization of 30 different types of nature reserves, natural parks and scenic spots in the region. We propose an integration and optimization plan that fits the region, focusing on the treatment of the overlapping and distributed residential land, basic farmland, and major construction projects of each protected area, and provide reasonable suggestions for the integration and optimization of the construction of natural reserves with Chinese characteristics.


Preface
According to the concept given by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a protected area is a clearly defined geographical area that is recognized by law or other effective means and aims to achieve long-term preservation of nature and the services and cultural values of related ecosystems. Area [1]. In our country, nature reserves are defined or confirmed by governments at all levels in accordance with the law, and long-term protection of important natural ecosystems, natural relics, natural landscapes and the natural resources, ecological functions and cultural values they carry is carried out on land or sea areas. [2]. Internationally, there are corresponding regulations and specific consensus on nature reserves. Since China's nature reserves have not undergone systematic overall planning, they are mostly established by department-led and local declarations from the bottom up. They are limited to the reality of local division and division of departments. Therefore, there are a series of problems, such as imperfect top-level design and laws and regulations. Unsound, unreasonable spatial layout, unscientific classification system, unsmooth management system, unclear property rights responsibilities, mainly manifested in fuzzy positioning, multiple management, overlapping, unclear boundaries, unreasonable zoning, and prominent contradictions between protection and development, etc. , The phenomenon of spatial division and fragmentation of the ecosystem has occurred; an overall efficient, organically connected, and complementary nature reserve system has not yet been formed, and the management efficiency has been reduced, hindering the overall function; it cannot truly provide the public with high-quality ecological products and support the economy The sustainable development of society is incompatible with the development requirements of the new era. Under the new situation, the reconstruction of the natural reserve system is urgent. [3] Establishing a protected area system with national parks as the main body is a major measure to implement Xi Jinping's thoughts on ecological civilization and a major reform task proposed by the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The concept of ecological civilization that respects nature, conforms to nature, and protects nature must be firmly established. The integration and optimization of nature reserves is an important basic work for establishing a system of nature reserves with national parks as the main body. Through integration and optimization, scientifically solve the overlapping, unclear boundaries, multiple management, unclear rights and responsibilities, protection and development of nature reserves, etc. Real conflicts and problems left over from history: At the same time, other ecological spaces with conservation value should be included in the corresponding nature reserves, and the ecological space should be effectively expanded, so as to ensure that all necessary protections are maintained.
Lay the foundation for the establishment of a natural protected area system with scientific classification, reasonable layout, strong protection and effective management. [4] 2 Overview of the study area Gannan Prefecture is one of the ten Tibetan autonomous prefectures in the country. It is located in the southwestern part of Gansu Province, in the transitional zone between the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the western part of the Loess Plateau. It is connected to Aba Prefecture in Sichuan to the south, Huangnan Prefecture and Guoluo Prefecture in Qinghai to the southwest, and to the east and north. It is adjacent to Longnan City, Dingxi City and Linxia Prefecture. The geographical coordinates are between 100°46'～104°4 4' east longitude and 33°06'～36°10' north latitude. The total area of the whole prefecture is 3.66 million hectares. The altitude is between 1073 and 4920 meters, and the average temperature is 1.7°C. The administrative region involves 98 towns and villages in 7 counties and 1 city. Up to now, the prefecture has established 30 nature reserves of various levels and types, with a total area of 1.5 million hectares, accounting for 41.0% of the total land area of the state, of which 15 organized towns, 101 administrative villages, 415 natural villages, 23,040 households, 104,204 people. Gansu Yellow River Shouqu National Nature Reserve: Maqu Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Native Fish Nature Reserve has an overlapping area of 368.41 hectares.

There are a large number of residential areas and basic farmland in the protected area
Among the 30 nature reserves in the whole state, 14 nature reserves have basic farmland, and the permanent basic farmland area is 19194.02 hectares. The core area of the nature reserve is 78.78 hectares of permanent basic farmland, the buffer zone is 7,694hectares, and the experimental area is 11420.29 hectares of permanent basic farmland. The permanent basic farmland in the natural park is 4600.7 hectares. There

Existence of mining rights and major construction projects in the protected area
There are 68 cases involving mining rights in 8 nature reserves in Gannan Prefecture, of which 37 cases are prospecting. There were 4 mining cases and 27 sand quarrying cases.
There are a total of 25 major transportation construction projects at the national, provincial and state levels in the nature reserves in Gannan Prefecture. G1816 Wuhai-Maqin National Expressway cooperation to Saillong (Ganqing boundary) section project, passing through the original experimental area 14.1 kilometers; Xining-Chengdu Railway (Gannan) section, passing through the Gahaizecha National Nature Reserve experimental area 49.9 km. Line G248 Jiangguo River to Diebu Class II Highway (Zagul Town to Diebu Section), passing through the original core area and the original buffer zone for 20 kilometers; S581 Muer Town to Kaba Class II Highway (Dayugou to Kaba Section) , Crossing the core reserve (former buffer zone) 9.0 kilometers; S20 Lianghekou-Langmusi Expressway (Lianghekou to Diebu Yiwa section), crossing the experimental area 6.18 kilometers; S209 Gonghe-Jiuzhaigou highway (Ma Ya to Jiuzhaigou section) ), passing through the original core area 6.72 km, the original buffer zone 4.8 km, the original experimental area 40.11 km, and the core protection area 11.52 km

Integration and optimization measures
According to the "Guiding Opinions on Establishing a Natural Reserve System with National Parks as the Main Body" issued by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council, this integration and optimization follows the following principles: (1)Scientific evaluation and reasonable adjustment. On the basis of biodiversity assessment, a scientific evaluation system will be established, focusing on resolving actual conflicts and historical issues. Make preparations for determining a reasonable optimization and adjustment plan.
(2)It should be fully delineated and guaranteed. Maintain the integrity of the natural ecosystem and the connectivity of ecological corridors, combine entry and transfer, protect all places that should be protected, and plan to establish a number of new nature reserves and other nature reserves.
(3)Seek truth from facts, simple and easy. The area of nature reserves is not preset, functional zoning is simplified, differentiated management and control measures are adopted, and transition periods are set for the gradual withdrawal of ecological relocation, permanent basic farmland, towns and villages, and mining rights, and strengthen the protection of property rights in accordance with the law and advance steadily.
(4)Make overall coordination and do a good job of connection. Combining the preparation of territorial and spatial planning, linking up the three control line regulations, launching simultaneously with the ecological protection red line assessment notice, and coordinating with the verification and rectification of permanent basic farmland, and rationally arranging production, living, and ecological spaces [4].
Mainly did the following work:

Revocation of completely overlapping nature reserves
In the overlapping areas of nature reserves, comprehensive consideration is given to the protection level, protection objects, protection intensity, historical evolution, management level, etc., and only one protection area is retained through integration to achieve "a set of institutions, a name, and a brand". According to the protection level, the protection intensity is from high to low. As the level of nature reserves is higher than that of various natural parks, 10 nature parks are planned to be cancelled during the integration and optimization process. Table2: Table 2 Gannan Prefecture intends to revoke nature reserves

Merge and transform into nature reserves or other nature reserves on the edge
For nature reserves that cross adjacent parts, the principle of low-level merging and high-level conversion is adopted. The areas involved in this integration and optimization process include, see the attached table3 for details Table 3 Consolidation and transformation of natural reserves in Gannan Prefecture

Transferring out residential land and basic farmland at the edge of centralized contiguous protected areas
Due to historical reasons and Gannan Prefecture belongs to ethnic minority gathering areas, most areas belong to poverty-stricken areas. When the scope of the protection area was originally delineated, some residential areas and basic farmland were included in the protection area. After years of development, the protection and The problem of development is very prominent. On the one hand, people's livelihood and production are strongly dependent on protected areas, and on the other hand, the protection of protected areas cannot be handled well. This integration and optimization takes into account the issues of protection and development. The concentrated and contiguous residential land and basic farmland around the protected area are transferred out of the protected area. After many discussions, the area of the protected area is larger in some areas, and It may be in a situation where the sunroof is properly opened.

Reserve channels for major construction projects
In recent years, major construction projects in Gannan Prefecture have been carried out in an orderly manner. Among them, many national key projects, especially transportation projects, will pass through general control areas of nature reserves, and some also involve passing through core protection areas. For some key projects, those in the protected area will be ensured through changes in planning and reserved passages.Protect nature reserves while developing the project.

Rectify illegal water conservancy mining in protected areas and illegal points detected in the Green Shield operation
The central environmental protection inspector and the "Green Shield" special action on the rectification of ecological and environmental problems. During the central environmental protection inspection, no ecological and environmental problems related to Gannan Prefecture's nature reserve were found. In 2017 and 2018, the "Green Shield Operation" cleaned up and identified 147 ecological and environmental problems. So far, 147 items have passed county-level acceptance; 134 items have passed state-level review and recognition; 13 items have been rectified and awaited acceptance at the provincial and state levels. Natural parks have no ecological environment violations of laws and regulations.

Transfer to areas with higher protection value around the protected area and add grassland parks
Gannan Prefecture is rich in grassland forestry resources. This integration and optimization has been transferred to some areas with high conservation value and two grassland parks have been added. Gansu Gahaizecha National Nature Reserve was transferred to the source area of the Tao River in Liqiaru, Luqu County, 6452.93 hectares. The transferred area is an important water conservation area for the Tao River, a tributary of the Yellow River. Forests, wetlands and grassland resources are alternately distributed and biodiversity Rich in sex, high protection value. Gansu Yellow River Shouqu National Nature Reserve transferred into five rivers, Yaodarqu, Niangyiqu, Cheluoqu, Naaiqu, and Tangqu, covering an area of 717.20 hectares. The five rivers in the area are an important part of the Manrima, Zerima, Qihama marsh wetlands and river wetlands. The reserve is an important water conservation area and reservoir in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, and is the main water supply for the main stream of the Yellow River.
One of the districts. In order to fully promote the integrated development of forest and grass, and to protect and restore grasslands, the National Forestry and Grass Administration decided to carry out pilot projects to promote the construction of national natural grassland parks. Gannan Prefecture has added two new grassland parks during this integration and optimization, namely Awancang National Grassland Natural Park in Gansu Province in Maqu County and Gansu Meiren National Grassland Natural Park in Hezuo City

Integrated optimization plan
According to the integration and optimization measures, 22 nature reserves remain after the integration and optimization. There is no overlap between the protected areas; the basic farmland and residential areas in the protected areas that can be transferred have been adjusted accordingly.After evaluation and field survey, the area was transferred to a natural reserve, the scope of the protected area was enlarged, and two national grassland parks were added. Table 4 Status of natural protected areas after integration and optimization in Gannan Prefecture

Related suggestions
Many problems arose during the process of land consolidation and optimization of natural reserves in Gannan Prefecture, which were resolved through step-by-step negotiation and some common problems were also summarized. Therefore, some suggestions were made for the integration and optimization of natural reserves: First, it is recommended that the state and the province fully consider the particularities of each region, the complexity of historical issues, and the prominence of actual contradictions. Under the premise of policy permission, it will involve towns, villages, cultivated land, permanent basic farmland and The grassland is transferred out of the protected area to properly resolve historical problems and outstanding contradictions in reality, better consolidate the results of poverty alleviation, promote industrial development, and achieve long-term stability in all regions.
Second, it is recommended to give local governments sufficient decision-making power in the process of integration and optimization, focusing on local governments, further straighten out management systems and mechanisms, clarify management responsibilities and authorities, and better solve the problem of management "two skins" Deal with the relationship between production, life and ecology, and better resolve the actual conflicts between development and protection.
Third, it is recommended that the state and the province further clarify the time limit for withdrawal, and introduce policies and measures to ensure the withdrawal of towns and villages in core protected areas and permanent basic farmland to ensure that the towns and villages in core protected areas and permanent basic farmland withdraw in a planned, orderly, and orderly manner to ensure that farmers Retire, stable, developable,