Capital extends helping hand to wildlife

Legislation completed

With the number of wildlife species in Beijing rising due to the improved urban environment, local authorities have strengthened protection efforts.

In April last year, legislation was completed for the city's wild animal conservation regulation, which bans the consumption and trading of all terrestrial wildlife and certain aquatic species that are on the city's wildlife conservation list.

Anyone found artificially breeding wild animals faces a fine of 20,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan ($3,074 to $15,350), according to the regulation, which took effect on June 1 last year.

Dai Mingchao, deputy director of the Beijing Gardening and Greening Bureau, said to better implement the regulations, protection of wildlife species and habitats has been strengthened.

"Our main focus is on creating a good habitat for wild animals," he said, adding that the city now has 367,000 hectares of nature reserves and scenic spots, accounting for 22 percent of its land area.

In 2017, the Beijing municipal government began removing illegal structures and relocating manufacturing industry and some public services to neighboring counties in Hebei province.

The aim was to restore the city's traditional appearance and help it develop as a world-class and more-livable capital. The work will continue until 2030.

Dai said the relocation includes building city forests and small wetlands, along with storage facilities to provide food and water for wildlife.

"It's an important way for the capital to maintain wildlife biodiversity and promote the restoration of regional biodiversity," he said, adding that scientific research is also underway on the protection of wild animals in small populations.

This year, an additional 10,667 hectares of forest and 400 hectares of urban green spaces will be provided in Beijing, according to a plan released by the gardening and greening bureau last month.

Dai said that since 2018 at least one benjeshecken, also known as a "dead hedge", which is constructed from materials left over from pruning, clearing or forestry activities, has been planted on every 66.67 hectares of vacant land in Beijing.

Native plants and excess materials are then added to form an artificial barrier, which gradually provides food and shelter for small mammals and reptiles.