CCTV:

According to the white paper, China was the first country in the world to propose and enforce red lines for ecological conservation. Can you share how the red lines for marine eco-environmental conservation were drawn? What role do they play? What are the considerations for safeguarding these red lines? Thank you.

Sun Shuxian:

Thank you for your questions. Red lines for marine eco-environmental conservation have attracted wide concerns from the public. Since 2019, in combination with the formulation of a territorial spatial plan, the Ministry of Natural Resources has worked with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and other departments to establish the red lines for eco-environmental conservation. During this process, we have adhered to the principles of achieving full coverage of areas that are eligible, following a fact-based approach and have prioritized the inclusion of areas with critical ecological functions, such as biodiversity conservation and coastal protection, as well as the most ecologically fragile areas, such as coastal erosion under the ecological conservation red lines, on the basis of the marine eco-environmental importance assessment. At the same time, red lines have also covered undeveloped and uninhabited sea islands, habitats of rare and endangered marine species and migratory birds as well as spawning sites of important fishery resources, thus playing a key role in protecting the habitats and migration of marine life and birds.

To date, China has drawn red lines covering a total area of 150,000 sq km, including mangrove forests, coral reefs, seagrass beds and other typical marine ecosystems, forming an important blue eco-environmental shield.

To fortify the regulation of red lines for marine eco-environmental conservation, we have also worked with relevant departments to issue A Notice on Strengthening Management of Red Lines for Eco-Environmental Conservation (Trial), regulating the specific types and management requirements for allowing limited human activities and the specific circumstances and approval procedures for the occupation by major national projects, as well as clarifying the regulatory responsibilities of the departments overseeing red lines for eco-environmental conservation. Based on that, in combination with local conditions and considering both principles and flexibility, provinces and cities have introduced more operational regulation requirements for ecological conservation red lines with more local features.

Next, we will strengthen the coordination with local governments and carry out marine eco-environmental conservation performance evaluations on a regular basis. We will intensify the publicity to enhance awareness from all sectors of society to strictly safeguard red lines for marine eco-environmental conservation and gather social forces to jointly safeguard red lines for marine eco-environmental conservation. Thank you!