China, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam jointly promote cross-border forest protection

Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam are rich in forest resources, and Yunnan Province shares a combined border of 4,060 kilometres with the three countries. Over the past several years, Yunnan has constantly improved ex-change mechanisms and strengthened cooperation with the three countries regarding the cross-border protection of forests. Such actions provide a wealth of cooperative experience in the cross-border preservation of biodi-versity between China and its neigh-bouring Southeast Asian countries.

For more than a decade, Yun-nan has continuously promoted the construction of the “China-Laos Cross-border Protection Area”. In 2006, Yunnan’s Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve proposed to establish a protection area. Ever since then, Yunnan has collaborated with the Lao provinces of Luang Namtha, Phongsaly and Oudomxay to promote the preservation of this protected area in the name of biodiversity conser-vation. From 2009 to 2013, the two countries demarcated four cross-border biodiversity protection zones. So far, a protection area extending 220 kilo-metres from south to north and five kilometres from east to west has taken shape. The protection area covers about 200,000 hectares in total.

In November 2016, the First Chi-na-Myanmar Forest Resources Pro-tection and Community Development Forum was held with the theme of “Jointly building a green, ecological home”. Attendees reached a series of agreements on biodiversity protec-tion, forest resource management, forest fire prevention, under-forest economic development, community development and other hot-botton issues. A linkage mechanism was also established.

In late 2016, the Yunnan Provin-cial Forestry Department signed a cooperative agreement concerning the protection of cross-border forests and wild fauna and flora with the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam’s Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau and Dien Bien provinces. The two sides agreed to jointly implement interna-tional conventions, carry out protec-tion of wild animals and plants, and strengthen the control of cross-bor-der illegal trading and the transport of illicit forest products.

China, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam jointly promote cross-border forest protection

Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam are rich in forest resources, and Yunnan Province shares a combined border of 4,060 kilometres with the three countries. Over the past several years, Yunnan has constantly improved ex-change mechanisms and strengthened cooperation with the three countries regarding the cross-border protection of forests. Such actions provide a wealth of cooperative experience in the cross-border preservation of biodi-versity between China and its neigh-bouring Southeast Asian countries. For more than a decade, Yun-nan has continuously promoted the construction of the China-Laos Cross-border Protection Area. In 2006, Yunnans Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve proposed to establish a protection area. Ever since then, Yunnan has collaborated with the Lao provinces of Luang Namtha, Phongsaly and Oudomxay to promote the preservation of this protected area in the name of biodiversity conser-vation. From 2009 to 2013, the two countries demarcated four cross-border biodiversity protection zones. So far, a protection area extending 220 kilo-metres from south to north and five kilometres from east to west has taken shape. The protection area covers about 200,000 hectares in total. In November 2016, the First Chi-na-Myanmar Forest Resources Pro-tection and Community Development Forum was held with the theme of Jointly building a green, ecological home. Attendees reached a series of agreements on biodiversity protec-tion, forest resource management, forest fire prevention, under-forest economic development, community development and other hot-botton issues. A linkage mechanism was alsoestablished. In late 2016, the Yunnan Provin-cial Forestry Department signed a cooperative agreement concerning the protection of cross-border forests and wild fauna and flora with the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnams Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau and Dien Bien provinces. The two sides agreed to jointly implement interna-tional conventions, carry out protec-tion of wild animals and plants, and strengthen the control of cross-bor-der illegal trading and the transport of illicit forest products.