China has tightened the protection of its natural reserves and
scenic spots, by releasing on Tuesday a new regulation to restrict
film shooting and artistic performances in these areas.
"Some big-budget films and artistic performances these years are
over-obsessed with economic returns, and have greatly damaged
natural environment. Thus film shooting and artistic performances
in natural reserves, scenic spots and sites of historic interest
must be strictly restricted," said the regulation.
The regulation is jointly issued by the State Environmental
Protection Administration, the Ministry of Construction, the
Ministry of Culture and the State Administration of Cultural
Heritage.
Film shooting and artistic performances will only be allowed in
experimental zones of nature reserves, outer sections of scenic
spots and some cultural heritage sites, upon approval from relevant
authorities.
People who violate the regulation will be dealt with harshly,
the regulation said, citing damage remediation, monetary fines, and
court charges in severe cases of environmental damage.
The State Environmental Protection Administration has already
issued a similar regulation earlier this month to regulate film
shooting, artistic performances in nature reserves and scenic
sites.
China now has 2,349 natural reserves, covering about 1.5 million
square kilometers, or 15 percent of China's land area.
Last year, Chinese director Chen Kaige was fined 90,000 yuan
(US$11,250) for littering and destroying vegetation while shooting
his US$42 million film The Promise at a scenic nature
reserve in Shangri La, in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2007)