Exploitation of Endangered Species of China

 

China is blessed with species richness, one in the 12 mega biodiversity countries. The total number of 35,000 species of higher plants, 10,000 species of crops, 6,347 species of vertebrates. The grasslands of China is a home for about 2000 species of wild animals and we can find economically and medicinally valuable plant species in that area in a large number, mainly ephedra sinica stapf, snow lotuse, liquorice, aweto, etc. 20,278 marine species were recorded in China so far, which is approximately 10% of world's total marine species. Beside the species richness in the country the level of species endemism is quite high. According to the reports, 35,000 higher plant species out of which 17,300 are endemic. Vertebrates 6,445 species and 667 species being endemic (China’s Fourth National Report on Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ministry of Environmental Protection November 2008). The National Government of China has listed endangered wildlife species in the international organizations such as the Convention on International trade in Endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) and International Union for Cnservation of Nature. The biodiversity loss is impacted by mainly human intervention and industrialization happening in China, which causing habitat loss and destruction.

In China Pangolins are listed as second grade protected species by the government as well as in CITES Appendix II, IUCN red and green book. 3 species of Pangolins are found in China Chinese pangolin (M.pentadactyla), Indian pangolin (M.crassicaudata) and Malayan pangolin (M.javanica). The habitat of Pangolins is shrinking and becoming smaller with a period and population has drastically decreased into smaller groups. Pangolins are used vitally for medicinal purposes and food. (Wu et al., 2004; Wu and Ma, 2007). The threat cause by the extinction of endangered species in China is really a matter of concern. These valuable endangered species are large in number and their population decline rate is also high and increasing day-by-day. The government has put various efforts for the protection and conservation of these species. Protected areas have increased over a period in China.

These species are valuable as they are ecologically and economically viable for the country, and their habitat destruction and population decline will severely impact the ecological services and economy of a country.  Traditionally, various wildlife animals are used for making medicines, for food products, pets etc. Over-exploitation of species is a biggest threat to the endangered species. Rhino, Elephants, South China Tiger, Panda, Pangolins and many other wildlife animals were severely exploited. Illegal trade and trafficking system in China are the biggest issue when it comes to over-exploitation. Illegal trading is systematically functioning in various cities of China. There are various regulations by the Chinese government, to stop the wildlife trade. 

Wildlife trade of endangered species for products, dead animal trade has become a serious issue and severe threat for the Biodiversity. Changes have been made from time to time in the wildlife protection act of China to overcome this problem of biodiversity Conservation of endangered species, US intervention to protect the wildlife is also an important step in direction to conserve the species. The severity of issue is a result of Chinese government ignorance and corruption in the system. Lack of knowledge in China’s public about the threat to species and their extinction which supports demand.

The major consequence of exploitation of endangered wildlife is outbreak of Corona virus or COVID-19. This virus has emerged from the Wuhan, China from the seafood market. The world is suffering, millions got infected and impacted by this virus across the globe. Earlier, viruses like Avian flu, SARS, MERS have also originated from the highly controversial WET markets of China. Although China has banned these markets in the earlier but there is no strict enforcement and regulation seen in China.

Threat analysis of Endangered Species

China being one of the nations with rich biodiversity. The condition of wild animals in China is considerably critical and questionable to the government and authorities. Chinese government have opted various regulations and legislations to secure its richest biodiversity and ecosystem. The rate of extinction of wildlife animals is increasing day by day. The alarming rate of extinction is 100-1,000 time more than the natural rate. Wildlife plays a crucial role by providing ecological balance and ecological services. The indicators of wildlife monitoring are population trends, habitation, extinction risk, and community structure. They maintain natural balance in environment, to maintain the food web their survival and existence is important, along with ecological importance wildlife possess economic importance too, wildlife tourism industry is flourishing well and is growing and expanding with time. Similarly, for clinical trials and laboratory experiments wildlife animals are used widely. Biodiversity of a country possess various roles by providing resources, regulating freshwater cycle, food security, soil health, overall ecological balance. However, China’s national policy still prioritizes economic development over the environment, and GDP growth remains the main criterion for selecting and promoting government officials (Guan et al. 2011).

Causes of Species Exploitation

·       As the human population is exponentially growing, the destruction of biodiversity is taking place substantially. The land cover- land use patterns have significantly changed over a period which is considerably a serious issue.

·       Destruction of Natural Habitats: According to National Wildlife Survey, the human intervention and introduction of mega projects near natural habitats of wild species are resulting in destruction of their habitats.

·       Spread of invasive species is also affecting habitats of endangered wild animals.

·       Climate change is also contributing to the issue.

·       Human Interference is the most important threat to the endangered species. As humans are over-exploiting wild animals to satisfy their needs and greed’s.

·       Illegal trade and trafficking of wild animals which include endangered species, just for the sake of money is largely exploiting species and resulting in population decline.

·       Corruption: The government of China has passed various regulations regarding protection of endangered species, but the ground reality is different, which is contradicting to the regulations and Chinese laws. Possibly this could be due to the corruption in the system.

Corona Virus-19 impact on endangered wildlife animal Species of China

As the Covid-19 outbreak happens in China, there is pleasant update for wildlife 

conservationist all over the world. The Chinese government is being pressurized by 

various developed as well as developing nations to ban the WET markets and illegal 

trade of endangered wild animal species. These live markets are unhygienic, 

unorganized, illegal, inhuman places where live animals are sold. So, these markets are 

temporarily closed for now but in coming future these markets can be banned 

permanently.

Policies implemented by China to protect its biodiversity

Illicit wildlife trade in China: The wildlife trade and wildlife animal trafficking are rapidly growing with increased demand of wildlife animals’ products which includes endangered species too. Overlooked, under-policed, and highly lucrative, international wildlife trafficking has become a low-risk/high-return illegal trade estimated at $7 billion to $23 billion annually. While China’s share of this trade is unknown due to the trade’s illicit nature, China is widely recognized as the world’s largest market for trafficked wildlife products (U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Staff Research Report- 2018). With the rising demands, Chinese government has various challenges in front of them. The biggest concerns include species conservation with prime focus on rare and endangered species, illegal trade (diversion of revenue generated by such activities and control such groups), vanish corruption off the system which enables these illegal trade and animal trafficking.

The demand for wildlife products in China, is due to the certain reasons which includes majorly 3 key factors:

·       they are considered as status symbol in the society

·       the wildlife products are assets for them, good investment and returns can be achieved in a short or long term

·       they are widely used for traditional medicines as wildlife products are beneficial for health-related issues and are used in Traditional Asian Medicine.

International Wildlife Product Market- China’s Role

China is a world’s largest and leading market for Illegal Wildlife Trade & Trafficking. The nonprofit TRAFFIC reported that between 2010 and 2013, “the Chinese market has been more heavily implicated in illicit trade in ivory than any other country,” as shown by statistical research on the Elephant Trade Information System database (U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Staff Research Report- 2018).

According to IFAW survey, 2007 (independent survey for Chinese consumers) have reported that around 70% of respondents participated in that survey were unaware of elephants killing for ivory.

In spite huge demand for endangered species products in China, many of civil society workers, Environmental NGOs, volunteers, and activists have raised this issue and concerns and they are demanding for animal rights, species conservation and protection action in China.

picture 1: Overland Smuggling Routes for Rhino Source: Elephant Action League, “Grinding Rhino: Operation Red Cloud Investigative Report: An Undercover Investigation on Rhino Horn Trafficking in China and Vietnam,” July 2017, 65. https://elephantleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Grinding-Rhino-July2017-Elephant-Action-League.pdf.  Illegal trade and trafficking of wildlife animals is facilitated smoothly via different modes. According to Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) report the traffickers tend to transfer illegal products via airport with negligent screening along with connecting flights. It is done mostly for rhino shipment to china from various other countries like Hong Kong, South Africa, Namibia and many other countries. Also, various Vietnam dealers’ cross borders of China to transport Rhino and elephant products via road, these species came under endangered list, but their illegal trade is flourishing in China over the years. Various online platforms are facilitating the illegal wildlife trade in China, which is a biggest challenge for Chinese government. Even after execution of strict laws and banning such items from these websites, it does not get affected much.  In 2007, then director of Law Enforcement and Training division of the CITES China have confirmed the practice of Taobao and some other online platforms for the sale of rare and endangered animal products. Another case arouses from 2017, GlobeScan consumer survey which reports that e-commerce websites are utmost shared platform for illegal wildlife products trade and procurement. With increasing sternness of regulations, various traders are changing their platforms. According to TRAFFIC, there were around 25,000 endangered species of wild animals are listed on various e-commerce websites, this count dropped to 14,000 in 2016. But with this they came to know that various vendors have changed their mode and shifted to those platforms which are next to impossible to monitor. So, to find the exact statistics it is a challenge for authorities.  Figure 2: China’s Wildlife Regulation and Enforcement Actions, 1980 to 2018 Source: Created by Commission staff. Various. (U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Staff Research Report- 2018) Although the trade in endangered wildlife was prohibited by CITES, this ban is wildly believed to have failed because it attempts to artificially restrict supply in the face of persistent and growing demand (Biggs et al. 2013). The illicit trade in wildlife is a booming industry in the expanding Asian market, and traditional Chinese medicine is a significant driver of the trade. Because the skyrocketing level of poaching is being driven by the growing retail price, a variety of flora and fauna with considerable medicinal value are endangered in China. For example, large numbers of Tibetan antelopes (Pantholops hodgsonii) are hunted each year, even in protected areas, for their valuable fur and particularly for their horns, which are considered to be a precious medicine (Fig. 5). As a result, their population decreased from 200 000 to 20 000 during the 1980s (Bianba 2011). Source: WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM  Conclusion-After the secondary literature research, the rate of exploitation of endangered species in China is high. Efforts have been majorly done on paper and ground reality is somewhat different. The corruption is leading to wild animals trading and trafficking, the developing economy and demand for wild animals in WET markets and trafficking industry is growing day by day which directly confirms the presence of corruption in the system. There are some positive reports also coming from different parts of the China, the protected area in China is substantially increased over a period. This increase is a joint effort of various wildlife conservation organizations and NGOs. To protect the pangolins here are some suggestions which includes complete ban on the usage of Pangolins, investigation, and proper check to track the illegal trade and trafficking, establishment of research center where researches could be done on them and protection is provided to them for future. There is a need to re-construct China’s wildlife conservation system which includes laws and regulations. Strict enforcement should be there to protect the biodiversity in China.