Global S&T Development Trend Analysis Platform of Resources and Environment
| DOI | 10.1126/science.abg9978 |
| China's new laws overlook native herpetofauna | |
| Kai Wang; Yunke Wu; Zhiyong Yuan | |
| 2021-03-05 | |
| 发表期刊 | Science
 |
| 出版年 | 2021 |
| 英文摘要 | After revising the China Wildlife Protection Law in 2018 ([ 1 ][1]), China released an updated version of the accompanying List of Wild Animals under Special State Protection in China ([ 2 ][2]) on 5 February. Although these long-awaited changes are progress, they continue to inadequately protect the country's diverse herpetofauna ([ 3 ][3]), which represents more than 4% of global reptile species [511 ([ 3 ][3]) out of 11,341 ([ 4 ][4]) global species] and more than 6% of global amphibian diversity [515 species ([ 3 ][3]) out of 8294 globally ([ 5 ][5])].
The revised List remains biased toward megafauna. The percentage of threatened species compared with the percentage of protected species in each group shows that herpetofauna are less represented than birds and mammals ([ 2 ][2], [ 3 ][3], [ 6 ][6]–[ 8 ][7]). For example, about 30% and 43% of China's reptile and amphibian species, respectively, are threatened, according to China's Red List ([ 6 ][6]), but only about 18% and 20% of each group's respective total diversity is protected by the revised List ([ 2 ][2], [ 3 ][3]). Meanwhile, 11% of China's bird species are threatened ([ 6 ][6]), but about 27% of China's bird species are given protected status ([ 2 ][2], [ 8 ][7]).
Furthermore, decisions about whether to include a given species on the List do not follow the set criteria ([ 9 ][8]). For example, 77 reptile species that are designated as Vulnerable or higher in China's Red List Assessment ([ 6 ][6])—representing about 56% of China's total threatened reptile diversity—are excluded from the List ([ 2 ][2]), with no justifications to explain why. Likewise, 110 threatened amphibians—63% of China's total threatened amphibian diversity—were omitted without specific explanations ([ 2 ][2], [ 6 ][6]). Species with similar ecology and conservation threats seem to have been selected or excluded randomly (e.g., inclusion of Paramesotriton spp. but omission of Pachytriton spp.) ([ 10 ][9]).
The protection classifications in the List also fail to distinguish between Critically Endangered species and those with a less urgent conservation status. Critically Endangered species, based on China's Red List ([ 6 ][6]) (such as Cuora spp. and Platysternon megacephalum ), are prescribed the same protection level as species that are classified as Least Concern (such as Laticauda colubrina and Salamandrella keyserlingii ) ([ 2 ][2], [ 6 ][6]). If the protection level is not prescribed properly, these Critically Endangered species may soon be extinct from the wild.
Finally, the List's species-specific approach to listing is vulnerable to unstable taxonomy. All species that are newly discovered or recorded or have experienced recent changes in species-level taxonomy are excluded from protection until the next revisionary cycle. However, there has been a continuous influx of new species and new national records in China, and the current taxonomy is far from stable ([ 3 ][3]). Given that many new species are already threatened at the time of discovery ([ 11 ][10], [ 12 ][11]), the time lag in extending protective coverage has substantial conservation implications.
The next revision of this legislation should include unbiased coverage of all vertebrate groups in China, particularly herpetofauna. It should be based on set criteria that best reflect the true conservation needs of species, and any adjustment to the List should be accompanied by publicly available justifications. We also recommend that the current legislation be amended to grant temporary protection to all new species, newly recorded species, and species with recent changes at species-level taxonomy until the next revisionary cycle.
1. [↵][12]National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, “Wildlife Protection Law of China” (2018); [www.forestry.gov.cn/main/3949/20170314/204777.html][13] [in Chinese].
2. [↵][14]National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, “Official release of the updated List of Wild Animals under Special State Protection in China” (2021); [www.forestry.gov.cn/main/586/20210208/095403793167571.html][15] [in Chinese].
3. [↵][16]1. K. Wang et al
., Biodivers. Sci. 28, 189 (2020).
[OpenUrl][17]
4. [↵][18]1. P. F. Uetz,
2. P. Freed,
3. J. Hošek
, “Species numbers by higher taxa,” The Reptile Database (2021); [www.reptile-database.org/db-info/SpeciesStat.html][19].
5. [↵][20]1. D. R. Frost
, Amphibian Species of the World (2021); |
| 领域 | 气候变化 ; 资源环境 |
| URL | 查看原文 |
| 引用统计 | |
| 文献类型 | 期刊论文 |
| 条目标识符 | http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/316981 |
| 专题 | 气候变化 资源环境科学 |
| 推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | Kai Wang,Yunke Wu,Zhiyong Yuan. China's new laws overlook native herpetofauna[J]. Science,2021. |
| APA | Kai Wang,Yunke Wu,&Zhiyong Yuan.(2021).China's new laws overlook native herpetofauna.Science. |
| MLA | Kai Wang,et al."China's new laws overlook native herpetofauna".Science (2021). |
| 条目包含的文件 | 条目无相关文件。 | |||||
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