Living Forest

Transcription

1 Living Forests A newsletter for biodiversity conservation in South China (Issue No. 2) Inside this issue: The Asian Turtle Crisis White-eared Night Heron Indigenous knowlege and biodiversity conservation Fish Diversity in Mulun Nature Reserve 1

2 P.2 Map of South China P.3 The Asian Turtles Crisis CONTENTS P.6 Kong A glimmer at sundown- White-eared P.27 Night Heron P.9 Book review: Maintaining Indigenous knowledge and biodiversity Biodiversity in Forest Ecosystems conservation P.11 A selection of recent publications Fish Diversity in Mulun Nature Reserve P.35 P.14 Wilderness Field survey findings in Guangxi and Hainan, P.17 In the news P.24 Book review: The Butterflies of Hong P.31 P.36 Announcements 1. Studentships Map of South China 2. Invitation to specialists Front cover : Juvenile White-eared Night Heron, photo taken at Damingshan NR., Guangxi. (by LEE Kwok Shing / KFBG) Major sites mentioned in this issue are indicated Editors : Lawrence Chau, John Fellowes, Billy Hau, Vicky Lam, Michael Lau, Lee Kwok Shing, Vera Poon, Gloria Siu, Captain Wong Illustrations : Lee Kwok Shing Address for correspondence : South China Biodiversity Team, Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden, Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, HK. 2

3 / : www. nytts.org/asia/trade-ws.htm (Pelodiscus sinensis) : (Platysternon megacephalum) (Geoemyda spengleri) (Sacalia quadriocellata) ; (Cuora trifasciata) ; ( ) (WCS) (TRAFFIC) (WWF) : ( ) ; (IUCN Red List) ( ) ( ) 3

4 The Asian Turtles Crisis by Michael LAU Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden Over 90 species of tortoises and freshwater turtles occur in Asia, constituting more than one third of the world turtle fauna. Many of these Asian turtles have long been used by the people as food, medicine, and to a lesser extent, pets. The recent economic reforms in China have resulted in an ever increasing demand, especially in the South, for wildlife including turtles for consumption. The opening up of borders between China and the neighbouring countries, and the Chinese currency becoming convertible, made international trade of turtles possible. Although part of the demand is met by farmed Chinese Softshell Turtles, Pelodiscus sinensis, the bulk of this trade involves wild-caught turtles from South, East and Southeast Asia. A smaller number of Asian turtles are also traded as pets. Rare species with high individual value are often sought to satisfy the demand for pets in developed countries in Europe, US and Japan. This uncontrolled exploitation of turtles is clearly unsustainable, as witnessed by the change in species composition in Chinese food markets from predominantly Chinese species to mostly South Asian and Southeast Asian species in the last 30 years. This is because turtles are long-lived and slowmaturing, with relatively low reproductive rate and high mortality of eggs and juveniles. Once depleted, turtle populations take a very long time to recover, if they can at all. Nearly all Chinese turtles have become endangered or threatened and many Southeast and South Asian species are facing the same fate. As a result, a Workshop on the Conservation and Trade in Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises in Asia was organized by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna In Commerce (TRAFFIC) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in early December, Over 40 turtle experts, government representatives, international conservation organizations and traditional medicine practitioners from 16 countries (including Prof. Shi Haitao from Hainan Teachers College and staff from Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden) discussed the nature and impact of the turtle trade, and explored measures to counter this threat. The turtle trade is indiscriminate in that nearly all Asian species are involved. Another worrying trend is that turtles are being collected from new, more distant source areas. Often, turtles in any one location become depleted in a few years and the whole operation of collection and export has to move to a new site. Of the 84 species being evaluated for their conservation status, the workshop participants recommended that 63 species should be considered as threatened following the IUCN Red List criteria. Trade was a contributing factor in the majority (over 80 %) of these species. In order to address this threat which involves the removal of millions of turtles from the wild each year, a comprehensive strategy is needed which should include better legal protection and enforcement, collection of trade data and biological information, and reduction of demand to sustainable levels. A detailed account of the workshop conclusions can now be viewed on the web site: < org/asia/trade-ws.htm>. Proceedings of the workshop will also be out in the near future, funded partly by KFBG. The long history of collecting and consuming turtles in South China has resulted in the near complete disappearance of turtles in the wild. During three years of field surveys under KFBG s South China Biodiversity Conservation Programme, covering most of the best forested areas in Guangxi, Hainan and Guangdong, we have only managed to find seven individuals of three species: Big-headed Turtle 4

5 Platysternon megacephalum, Black-breasted Leaf Turtle Geoemyda spengleri, and Four-eyed Turtle Sacalia quadriocellata in the wild. One species conspicuous in its absence is the Three-banded Box Turtle or Golden Coin Turtle Cuora trifasciata, which ranges in forested hill streams from Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan to Vietnam and possibly Laos. This species is believed to have cancercuring and other medicinal properties and is particularly targeted. Due to the increasing demand and a declining supply, the price has rocketed to about HK$ 10,000 (RMB 11,000 or US$ 1,300) for a large adult. This species is probably ecologically extinct throughout much of its range and the healthiest population known is in Hong Kong. Even this population is under threat from illegal trapping and Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden is now working with Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department towards a strategy and action plan to safeguard this species. Asia has a very diverse turtle fauna occupying many different habitats from desert to rainforest, from wet field to mangrove swamp and from steep hill stream to big lowland river. Some of them feed solely on plant matter, some are strictly carnivorous while others are omnivorous. Unfortunately, they are disappearing before their ecological role can be studied properly. Turtles also play an important role in Asian culture. According to Chinese mythology, the turtle is one of the four devine animals and is also the symbol of longevity. They are also a valuable natural resource that has long been utilized for sustenance and as medicine. The commercial trade, together with habitat destruction and degradation, is now threatening the survival of the whole group in Asia. If we cannot reverse the trend soon, the Nature that Asian people experience may be forever devoid of these unique animals with their ancient and distinct evolutionary history. The symbol of longevity may become a symbol of extinction. A turtle stall in Haikou Market where most of the chelonians for sale were originated from Southeast Asia (by LEE Kwok Shing/KFBG) 5

6 - / (Gorsachius magnificus) IUCN IUCN Prof. Heinz Hafner IUCN 6

7 A glimmer at sundown - White-eared Night Heron by LEE Kwok Shing & Vicky LAM Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden Translated by Vera POON The White-eared Night Heron(Gorsachius magnificus) is an endemic species in China, first reported in 1899 from the middle part of Hainan Island. Currently, only five places scattered in South and East China have yielded about 10 records. Outside China, only one old record was made, in North Vietnam. Since no record had been made for many years, some ornithologists reckoned that this species had become extinct. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has listed it as a critically endangered species. When the South China Biodiversity Team (SCBT) conducted a wildlife trade survey in a market in Nanning in May 1998, a juvenile White-eared Night Heron was discovered and bought immediately, after which Prof. Zhou Fang from Guangxi University raised the bird. It was released at the nearby Damingshan Nature Reserve in August of the same year with the help of the Guangxi Forestry Department. Forestry Department officials, visited nine sites within the reported range area of the White-eared Night Heron in Guangxi. The sites surveyed included nature reserves, feng shui woods, tree farms, reservoirs, and flooded fields and fishponds near villages. During the trip, the survey team visited sites where Whiteeared Night Herons were reported to nest or forage. The breeding season had not yet begun, such that only old nests, feathers and droppings could be found at the nesting sites. In the evening of the second day of the survey, two team members sitting by a paddy field saw a White-eared Night Heron fly from nearby forests for a distance of around 30 meters. It settled in a nearby paddy field. Since it was dark, we could not observe foraging or other activities. This discovery excited everyone since it was the first record made by non-mainland Chinese researchers of wild White-eared Night Herons in the wild in the last 60 years. Although we continued our visits to sites with previous records, no further record could be made in Guangxi. This discovery proved that there was at least one population still existing in the world. KFBG highly valued this finding and subsidized Prof. Zhou Fang to survey the distribution and status of this bird in Guangxi. Meanwhile news of a White-eared Night Heron sighting was also heard from North Guangdong. During March and April this year, SCBT visited Guangxi and Guangdong to look for this mysterious bird guided by the gathered data so as to learn more about its ecological environment and living habits. We hoped the factors leading to its endangerment could be clarified, in order to formulate conservation actions. From 29 th March to 4 th April, a group of around ten people including SCBT members, Prof. Heinz Hafner, chairman of the Heron Specialists Group of IUCN, Prof. Zhou Fang and some Guangxi On 6 th April the team left Guangxi, heading to another distribution area, Chebaling National Nature Reserve in northern Guangdong, where Dr. Llewellyn Young of WWF HK and an official from the Guangdong Forestry Department joined the team. The following morning the team with the help of staff from the reserve, interviewed a farmer who caught Whiteeared Night Herons twice the previous summer. In the afternoon that day, the team, using the information supplied, divided into three groups sitting at different sites along the river and waited. At around 7p.m., one of the team members saw several herons flying from the forest in four different sightings. They could not be identified to species level because it was too dark. During the following two evenings, all team members waited at the same site and two herons were seen in turns flying down stream at 7p.m. each night. From the bright pale throat coloration, 7

8 it was confirmed on both evenings that at least one of the two herons was a White-eared Night Heron, and one of them was recorded with a photo. We visited many different habitats during these two weeks. As more information on the White-eared Night Heron was obtained, we discovered that they are so seriously disturbed by human activities that their population must be close to extinction. Several reserves in the Guangxi range had old reports, while some other records have been made outside reserve. Logging and hunting were common in the region. White-eared Night Herons sometimes fly to paddy fields and fishponds in villages and nest in nearby forests. During the breeding season, villagers hunt birds and take their eggs in the nesting area, further reducing the number of this species. The Guangxi Forestry Department has expressed great concern about this, and the first nature reserve for Whiteeared Night Herons was formally established at a nesting site in Fusui County last year. Another reserve will be established this year at Shangsi. In Chebaling of Guangdong, the birds lived in and around the nature reserve where good forests and streams could be found, though sometimes they fly to nearby villages to forage. As most guns of the villagers have been confiscated since the establishment of the reserve, hunting is not severe and the threat to White-eared Night Herons is not so high. Furthermore, television stations and newspapers in Guangdong and Guangxi report news of White-eared Night Heron from time to time so that local citizens can know more about this bird and understand the importance of protecting it. To be able to observe one of the rarest birds in the world and to obtain more detailed information about the species within just two weeks was the fruitful result of cooperation between the Guangxi Forestry Department, Guangdong Forestry Department, Prof. Zhou Fang of Guangxi University, Prof. Hafner, Heron Specialists Group of IUCN and SCBT. In order to allow the White-eared Night Heron to survive, KFBG has been asked by IUCN to coordinate the drawing up of a conservation action plan to better preserve the remaining populations and habitats of this species. White-eared Night Heron (adult) (by LEE Kwok Shing / KFBG) 8

9 / 1992 (UNCED) (Convention on Biodiversity) (1) (2) (3) (indigenous people)(4) (indigenous knowledge) (Bio- culture) (5) 1995 (Center for Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge CBIK; cbik.com.cn) 90% (participatory approach) 9

10 Indigenous knowledge and biodiversity conservation by PEI Shengji Department of Ethnobotany, Kunming Institute of Botany, CAS Translated by Emily AU The Convention on Biodiversity was passed at the 1992 UNCED held in Rio de Janeiro. After the conference, many countries including China set up certain laws and regulations to promote biodiversity conservation in these countries. Nevertheless, biodiversity conservation is not only a governmental act, but also a social act supported by the general public. People living in a region with rich biodiversity, like those living in South China, shoulder greater conservation responsibility. In recent years, indigenous people and indigenous knowledge over the world are considered essential forces to conserve nature. Indigenous knowledge refers to the accumulated folk knowledge shared by those originating and living in a particular place, including the wealth of knowledge to identify, to use and to conserve different species and ecosystems. Since this knowledge is founded on the long-term and direct interaction between humans and plants and has been passed from generation to generation after trial and error, it is valuable as cultural heritage and has high potential in application and development. The survival of rich biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is a result of the widespread use and application of indigenous knowledge. Today, over 90% of biological and genetic resources are still kept in the hands of indigenous people instead of those of scientists. Indigenous knowledge can be applied in biodiversity conservation in the following ways: 1. Sustainable use of useful traditional species such as edible plants, medicinal herbs, bamboos, wild fruits, wild vegetables, etc; 2. Conservation of certain taxa, key species and ecosystems due to traditional beliefs; examples are banyan, bamboo, azalea, sacred hills and sacred forests, etc; 3. Selective artificial domestication, cultivation and dispersal of useful wildlife in local biological communities. 4. Modification and management of natural landscape systems in the residential environment of indigenous people, in order to achieve harmony between local culture and the biological environment, and thus creating a diverse bio-culture; 5. The passing on of traditional medicinal knowledge may lead to the conservation of the source and population of particular medicinal herbs and also of biodiversity in general. The Center for Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge ( CBIK, website: cbik.com.cn), an NGO established in 1995 at Kunming, Yunnan, specializes in researching and applying indigenous knowledge of biodiversity. This NGO adopts the participatory approach and carries out biodiversity conservation for indigenous people living in the Yunnan minority tribes, forest conservation and conservation of genetic resources of special crops. So far, the results are encouraging. 10

11 / / (1981) % (Hemiculterella wui) (Acrossocheilus beijiangensis) (Sinocyclocheilus multipunctatus) (Triplophysa nadenensis)(oryzias latipes) (Ctenogobius yaoshanensis) 11

12 Fish diversity in Mulun Nature Reserve by LU Pingke 1, LI Hong Jing 2 & CHEN Xianglin 1 1 South China Normal University Guangzhou, Guangdong Xinyang Teacher's College Henan Translated by Brandy LAU Mulun Nature Reserve lies in the northwestern part of Huan Jiang Mao Nan autonomous county, on the edge of the eastern Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. It has a moist central subtropical monsoon climate. Its water body is the Dahuanjiang river system, a tributary of Longjiang. Mulun Nature Reserve is a typical Karst mountainous region and its geographical features are complex, with many caves and subterranean streams. As these features provide a complex and varied ecological environment for fish, the species richness and resources of fish in this reserve are high. A preliminary survey of Mulun NR under the South China Biodiversity Conservation Programme found 41 fish species belonging to 4 orders, 13 families and 34 genera, representing 38.3% of the known fish species in Longjiang. Of these species Hemiculterella wui, Acrossocheilus beijiangensis, Sinocyclocheilus multipunctatus, Triplophysa nadenensis, Oryzias latipes and Ctenogobius yaoshanensis were found for the first time in the Longjiang river system. Hemiculterella wui had been recorded in two nearby rivers, namely Hongshuihe and Rongjiang. Acrossocheilus beijiangensis was recorded once before in the Rongjiang river system in Guangxi. Sinocyclocheilus is endemic to the eastern Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and its distribution in Guangxi is mainly restricted to the Hongshuihe river system. The species previously found in Tianhe and the Longjiang river system are Sinocyclocheilus sp. 1 and Sinocyclocheilus sp. 2 respectively. The record of Sinocyclocheilus multipunctatus adds a new species of Sinocyclocheilus to the Longjiang river system. This shows that Sinocyclocheilus has a rather wide distribution in the Longjiang river system. Triplophysa is a major fish component in the plateau. They were once thought to be restricted to the Hongshuihe river system in Guangxi, and workers considered Hongshuihe as the boundary of the distribution of Triplophysa. The record of one Triplophysa nadenensis in Mulun Nature Reserve helps extend the distribution of Triplophysa in Guangxi northward to another river system. Oryzias latipes is a widespread species in China, distributed in river systems in Yangtze, Zhujiang and Fujian. This is a small size fish with low economic value and is often neglected by people, though its population decreased obviously starting from the 70s. According to the Freshwater Fishes of Guangxi Province (1981), it was recorded in Heng county and only one specimen was collected. In this study, two of this species were caught in the nature reserve, indicating that Oryzias latipes is being threatened in Guangxi and it is necessary to investigate in detail to protect this species. Ctenogobius yaoshanensis, which was thought to be restricted to Da Yao Shan, was found for the first time outside Da Yao Shan and the population was rather large at Mulun. In terms of biogeography, the fish community in Mulun belongs to the eastern Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau sub-region of the South Asia subcontinent. The reserve is located inside the Longjiang basin, within the mountainous region on the border of the northern and northwestern parts of Guangxi. The mountains in north Guangxi are formed by continual erosion of the ancient protruding continent. The mountains in northwest Guangxi are formed by 12

13 rivers cutting through the edge of the Yunnan- Guizhou Plateau. Thus the Longjiang river system where the reserve is situated should be the limit of the distribution of plateau fish species in Guangxi. During this survey, due to the limited time, we studied only surface river and not subterranean streams and caves. Probably there are still quite a few subterranean fish species waiting to be discovered. Generally speaking, these fishes are limited by their environment and have small population sizes. They are vulnerable and difficult to be restored once depleted. More studies should be undertaken so as to conserve the fish fauna. The survey also revealed that the fish resources in many rivers and streams have been destroyed by human activities. Therefore, there is an urgent need to strengthen education and protection of aquatic life. Acrossocheilus beijiangensis (by LEE Kwok Shing / KFBG) 13

14 Records of globally or nationally threatened wildlife in Guangxi and Hainan, The following records were made by specialist team members during KFBG surveys in Global status is based on IUCN Red list of Threatened Animals and Plants; national status is based on respective Red Data Books. Key: CR = critically endangered; EN = endangered; VU = vulnerable; NT = near-threatened; R = Rare Mammals Trachypithecus f. leucocephalus ( ) 80 White-headed Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus f. leucocephalus (Global: VU) At Chongzuo NR, Guangxi. On 6 July, at 14:00 p.m.. 11 leaf Monkeys were seen at 80m Birds Aviceda jerdoni ( ) Pernis ptilorhynchus ( ) Jerdon s Baza Aviceda jerdoni (Global: NT) At Oriental Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus (China: Cenwanglaoshan NR., Guangxi. On 1 August, one VU.) 1 at Cenwanlaoshan NR., Guangxi, 3 August.; 1 at was seen at 1450m. Dawangling NR., Guangxi, 5 August. Arborophila ardens ( ) Hainan Hill Partridge Arborophila ardens (Global: EN.; China: EN.) On 24 May, 2 heard and 2 seen at 770m, Diaoluoshan NR., Hainan; On 26 May, 1heard at 550m, Baishuiling, near Diaoluoshan. Gallus gallus ( ) Red Jungle Fowl Gallus gallus (China: VU.) 1 at Niujiaoling, Hainan, 20 May; 1 at Yabatien, Hainan, 22 May. Hainan Hill Partridge Ducula badia ( ) Ducula aenea ( ) Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea (China: Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia (China: VU.) 3 at VU.) 900m, Wuzhishan NR., Hainan, 10 June; 9 records of 14 birds 4 at m, Diaoluoshan NR., Hainan, 24 at m, Jiaxi NR., Hainan, June; 2 at 1000m, May; 16 at Wuzhishan NR., Hainan, 10 June. Limushan NR., Hainan, 16 June. 14

15 () Birds (Cont/d) Treron sieboldii ( ) 150 Japanese Green Pigeon Treron sieboldii (Global: NT.) 10 at 150m, Diaoluoshan NR., Hainan, 26 May. Thick-billed Green Pigeon Treron curvirostra ( ) 800 Thick-billed Green Pigeon Treron curvirostra (China: VU.) 4 at 800m, Diaoluoshan NR., Hainan, 24 May. Pitta soror ( ) Garrulax maesi ( ) 850 Blue-rumped Pitta Pitta Soror (Global: NT.) 1 at 850m, Diding NR., Guangxi, 8 July. Cissa thalassina ( Grey Laughingthrush Garrulax maesi (Global: NT.) 4 at Yabatien, ) Hainan, 22 May; 5 records of 44 birds, at Diaoluoshan NR., Hainan, May; 4 records of 50 birds, at Jiaxi NR., Hainan, June; 3 records of 30 birds, at Lumuwan NR., Hainan, 17 June; 4 records Short-tailed Green Magpie of 34 birds, at Diding NR., Guangxi, 8-9 July; 10 at Daxin NR., Cissa thalassina (Global: NT.) 1 at Niujiaoling, Guangxi, 15 July. Hainan, 21 May; 2 at Jiaxi NR., Hainan, 13 June.. Phylloscopus hainanus ( ) Sitta solangiae ( ) Yellow-billed Nuthatch Sitta solangiae (Global: Hainan Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus hainanus (Global: VU.) 7 records of 32 birds, at Diaoluoshan NR., May; 10 at Wuzhishan NR., 11 June; 6 records of 66 birds, at Jiaxi NR., June; 3 records of 50 birds, at Limushan NR., 16 June. Reptiles VU.) 5 at m, Diaoluoshan NR., Hainan, May; 10 at Wuzhishan NR., 11 June; 4 at 800m, Jiaxi NR., Hainan, 13 June; 8 at m, Limushan NR., Hainan, 16 June. Platysternon megacephalum ( Cuora galbinifrons ( ) ) Big-headed Terrapin Platysternon megacephalum Indo-chinese Box Terrapin Cuora galbinifrons (China: EN.) 1 at Daiaoluoshan NR., Hainan, 24 May. (China: EN.) 1 caught by a villager in Lumuman NR. Hainan. 15

16 () Reptiles (Cont/d) Ptyas korros ( ) Indochinese Rat Snake Ptyas korros (China: EN.) 1 at Diaoluoshan NR., Hainan, 24 May; 1 at Lumuwan NR., Hainan, 17 June. Beale s Eyed Terrapin Sacalia bealei ( ) Ptyas mucosus ( ) Common Rat Snake Ptyas mucosus Beale s Eyed Terrapin Sacalia bealei (Global: VU.; China: EN.) 1 kept by villagers near Jiaxi NR., Hainan, 13 June. (China: EN.) 1 at Qingpilin NR., Hainan, 19 May; 1 at Nonghua NR., Guangxi, 13 July. Amphibians Andrias davidianus ( ) Rana boulengeri ( ) Chinese Giant Salamander Andrias davidianus (China: CR.) 1 at Cenwanglaoshan NR., Guangxi, 4 August. Spiny-bellied Frog Rana boulengeri (China: VU.) Several at Cenwanglaoshan NR., Guangxi, August. Fish Parazacco spilurus ( ) Minnow Parazacco spilurus (China: VU.) Recorded at Jianling NR., Wuzhishan NR., Limushan NR. and Lumuwan NR., Hainan, May and June. Plants Micropera poilanei ( ) A rc h a n g i o p t e r i s Micropera poilanei (China: R.) A new recorded genus of Orchidaceae for China was found at Lumuwan N. R. in Central Hainan in June. (China: EN.) Schizaea dichotoma ( ) An individual was found at Lumuwan N.R. in Central Schizaea dichotoma (China: R.) Hainan in June. Several clumps of the plant were found at Qingpilin N.R. in southeastern Hainan in May. / tonkinensis ( ) Archangiopteris tonkinensis 16

17 ( 27/04/2000) ( ( ) 13/01/1999) 80% 97% ( ) /11/1998) ( 08/12/1998) ( 12/03/1999) ( 15/03/1999) ( ) 2000 (133 ) ( ( ) 09/04/1999) (20 ) ( ( 10/04/1999) ) ( ) ( ( )( ) 07/12/1998) ( ) 24/04/1999) % 7% ( ( 26/04/ 12/04/1999) ) ( ) 10/01/1999) 17

18 18 07/05/1999 ( ) ( ( ) 11/05/1999) ( 21/06/1999) ( 06/10/1999) ( 18/10/1999) ( 01/ 02/2000) 15/3/2000 ( )( ( ) 04/01/1999) 300 ( 12/05/1999) 1, /01/ % 08/10/1999 ( 16/03/2000) 01/01/1999 Zhaba Doje ( 14/01/1999) ( ( ) 18/01/1999)

19 2400 ( ( ) 04/02/ 1999) 500 ( ( 13/04/1999) ( ) 25/02/1999) ( 19/07/1999) ( 04/03/1999) s ( ( 07/ 29/12/1999) 03/1999) 04/1999) % 19% 12/05/ 1999 ( 06/04/ 1999) ( 14/04/1999) ) ( 22/ ( 10/3/2000) 19

20 In The News... National Beijing Forestry Bureau scientists have found that forested slopes had an average of 80% less run-off over four years, and 97% less in a drought year, than cleared slopes. (China Daily (HK Edition), 26/11/1998). China is the world s third worstacidified region, after Europe and North America, according to CAS and CAF researchers. From 1985 to 1993, the area affected by acid deposition rose from 1.75 million sq km to 2.8 million, or 29% of the land area, and CAF s Wang Yanhui estimates 40% is now affected. South China is worst affected, as soil alkalinity is lower there: the amount of damaged forest ranged from 1.3% in Anhui to 9.6% in Zhejiang. CAF researchers found acid rain has caused direct economic losses in 12 southern provinces of Y44 billion (US$5.3b) in lost timber, and Y54 million (US$6.5m) in lost crops. Acid deposition affected trees partly by weakening their resistance to pests. (China Daily (HK Edition), 7/12/ 98). The Chinese Government and the World Bank jointly sponsored the Forestry Development in Poor Areas Project for developing forest resources in poor areas of central and western China on a sustainable and participatory basis. This project aims to support poverty reduction, forestry development, and improved environmental management. Some exotic and indigenous species of pine, fir and chestnut have been planted on 545,000 hectares. Processing of forestry products such as pine resin extraction has been promoted. (China Daily (HK Edition), 10/ 01/1999) The killing of a rhesus monkey, which is one of China s protected rare animals, by the director of the forestry bureau in Long an County caused a stir as China celebrated the 10 th anniversary of the Law on Wild Animal Protection. His violation of the law attracted harsh criticism and resulted in his removal from office. (China Daily (HK Edition), 13/ 01/1999) China had plans to create an additional 13 to 27 million hectares of timber forests by the year 2000 to meet the increasing domestic timber demand. Mainly China fir, Masson pine and Eucalyptus were to be planted. The Government also planned to strengthen the tending of young timber trees, which affects the economic returns of the forest. (China Daily 12/03/1999) China will not increase timber imports to compensate timber shortages caused by its forest protection campaign. It will work towards self-sufficiency: of China s 460,000 sq. km area of plantation forest, one-seventh will reach maturity over the next 5 years. However, it will obtain rare trees and large-diameter logs from overseas. (China Daily (HK Edition), 09/ 04/99). FAO reported that China s natural forests are declining by 4,000 sq. km per year. SEPA announced plans to spend Y7 billion (US$843m) on preserving natural forests, mainly by relocating loggers along the Yangtze, Nenjiang & Songhua Rivers. (China Daily (HK Edition), 24/04/99). There are 926 nature reserves in China covering about 7.64% of the area of the whole country, which is higher than the average 7% standard in the world. Fifteen nature reserves in China are UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserves and more than 200 nature reserves had been established for endangered species. (People s Daily, 26./04./1999) The South Korean government decided to establish a large-scale windbreak in deserts in the Mainland China. The Forestry Office under Agriculture Department will choose a suitable area from China s desert regions to develop a windbreak so as to combat seasonal dust storms blowing to South Korea. Two afforestation experts were dispatched to China to determine the species to be grown, the scale of the windbreak and its estimated effectiveness. (Mingpao, 27/04/2000) GUANGDONG, GUANGXI, HAINAN & HONG KONG Pinewood nematode is spreading into plantations in Tonguan & Weizhou, eastern Guangdong, causing severe economic loss. (Ming pao, 08/12/1998). Following hillside afforestation of 1,300 sq.km, some 47% of Shenzhen s land area is now forest. (Shenzhen Daily, 15/03/1999). 20

21 Logging has been prohibited in Hainan since Since then, the area of forest in Hainan has rapidly increased to 20 million mu (1.33 million ha). The storage capacity of standing trees in forest has reached more than 80 million square meters with the establishment of natural tropical forests, coastal shelter forests along the sea and production forests. This resulted in high ecological benefits including the formation of 3 million mu (0.2 million ha) of production forest. (Shenxing Times, 10/04/1999) Two more individuals of Chinese hemlock (Tsuga chinensis) over 300 years old were found dead in Mao Er Shan Nature Reserve. Only 864 individuals of Chinese hemlock remain in 12,000 hectares of primary forest. The population size has been reduced by 336 individuals since The reason for this massive loss of Chinese hemlock is not known. Forestry specialists pointed out that it may be due to aging of the trees, the presence of pests or the change in the climate. (Wen Wei Po 12/04/1999) Eld s deer (Cervus eldi hainanus) has been rescued from the verge of extinction in Hainan after more than 20 years of protection effort. The population size increased from 28 individuals in 1976 to over 700 recently. It was mainly due to the establishment of Datian Nature Reserve which provided an ideal breeding site for Eld s deer. Meanwhile, a significant increase in the Eld s deer population size was achieved by effective education for the villagers and prosecution of illegal hunters. (Wen Wei Po, 07/ 05/1999) Hainan has produced a blueprint for ecological development over the next 30 years. It includes expanding forested areas to 55% of the island, planting a coastal forest belt of 200 sq km, and treating more of its solid and liquid waste. (China Daily (HK Edition), 11/05/1999). The Hong Kong government intended to incorporate Sham Wan on Lamma Island, where Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) lay eggs, into a restricted area during the egg laying season from June to October, during which only residents and visitors with permits would be able to enter. The Agriculture and Fisheries Department also planned to track Green Turtles. (Apple Daily, 21/06/1999) A globally endangered tree fern species, Alsophila spinulosa, was found in Tian e County of Guangxi. Nearly three thousand individuals were found by technicians from Linduo Forest Farm during a survey. The tree ferns are growing vigorously, some having a 30cm d. b.h. and reaching tens of meters in height. The relevant departments in Guangxi have adopted measures to protect them. (Xinhua News Service, 06/10/1999) Greater Painted Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) solely found in Kam Tin marshes and Long Valley within Hong Kong, are threatened by engineering works including West Rail, East Rail and roadworks pr op ose d by the H igh wa ys Department. There are only 100 individuals in Hong Kong and bird experts have little information about the species. Green groups strongly objected to all these developments and requested the government to increase effort in protecting the Snipe. (Apple Daily, 18/10/1999) Sham Chung, in Sai Kung of Hong Kong, is the one of the only habitats in the world with a record of Black Paradise Fish (Mac ropo dus concolor). However, much of the wetland in Sham Chung has been developed into a golf practice course. Hence, this globally rare species is highly threatened. Since Sham Chung had not been zoned as protected area, country park, or land of ecological value, green groups were helpless in saving the wetland. (Apple Daily, 01/02/2000) Hong Kong s streams and rivers are home to more than 70 freshwater fish species, together with more than 40 brackish-water species living in river mouths. However, nearly 30 per cent of the native species are threatened with extinction due to pollution and habitat destruction, mainly caused by channelisation. More than 60 per cent of Hong Kong s rivers and many freshwater streams have been destroyed by channelisation in the past 10 years. Eleven environmental concern groups urged the Government to stop destroying the territory s natural r i ve r s an d st r e a ms o n t h e International Day of Action Against Dams and for Rivers, Water & Life a global campaign for the protection of rivers on 14 th March, (Hong Kong Standard, 15/ 03/2000) 21

22 ELSEWHERE IN THE SOUTH Ornithologists Qian Fawen & Zhang Xu said Chongming Island off Shanghai is of global importance to birds of the NE Asia Australia flyway, and called for a special protection plan. Over 1million birds of ~103 species use the island, mainly the eastern wetland area of some 220 sq km (1/5 the island area). (China Daily (HK Edition), 04/01/1999). A Nature Reserve for water birds has been established at Chongming in Shanghai and it has become the third member of the Asia-Australia Flyway Reserve Network in China. Chongming is the third largest island in China with more than a million birds living there. Many of them are globally or nationally rare, endangered or protected species including those on Category I of the State Protection List in China such as White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) and Chinese Merganser (Mergus squamatus). (Shenxing Times, 12/ 05/1999) Sichuan will invest Y2-3 billion in developing the Siguniang Mountain scenic area, including an ecological park of 1,560 sq km. An expressway is under construction from Chengdu, 300km away. (Beijing Review, 25-31/01/1999). In the 50s, Chongqing started planting belts of protection forests along the Yangtze River and there were over 1 billion trees planted up to After the formation of this protection forest system, the amount of silt discharge into the river has been reduced by nearly 30% compared with that in the 80s. (China News from Hong Kong. com, 08/10/1999) The fourth survey on forest resources in Fujian province by the State Forestry Administration shows that Fujian forest coverage has reached 60.5%, increasing by 3% compared to 57.3% in the third survey. Fujian forest coverage still ranks first in China. From 1978, Fujian has had the highest forest coverage for 22 years in succession. This survey reveals that Fujian now has a total forested area of 9 million ha and a timber reserve of 400 million m 3, which are respectively 3.5 million ha and 23 million m 3 higher than the last survey. (Xinhua News Service, 16/03/2000) NORTH OF THE YANGTZE Liaoning Province has opened a park housing 10 Manchurian Tigers, near Shenyang. (HK Standard., 01/ 01/1999) State Forestry Administration announced a crackdown on poaching of Tibetan antelope (chiru) for shahtoosh. Zhaba Doje, commander of the wild yak anti-poaching squad in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau s Hoh Xil NR, was killed in November (China Daily (HK edition), 14/01/1999). Forest cover in Liaoning has doubled since 1949 through afforestation and forest protection. In many areas firewood has been replaced as fuel by methane gas. Erosion has been curtailed: in eastern Liaoning, the sand content has dropped from 106 kg to 60 kg per cubic metre, and the water table has risen by 3-4m. (China Daily (HK Edition), 18/01/1999). So far 11 people have been arrested for illegal logging in Minjiang Forest, Gansu, where some 200 cubic metres per day have been cut recently. (China Daily (HK Edition) 04/02/ 1999). The World Bank will supply US$150m over 5 years for the 2 nd phase of the erosion control project in the Loess Plateau. The project covers 20,000 sq km of the world s worst eroded land, in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Gansu & Inner Mongolia. (China Daily (HK Edition), 25/02/ 1999). Thousands of hectares of trees are to be planted in the arid Northwest region of China in an attempt to reverse the loss of land to desert. Trees, grass and other plants will be planted along the Tarim River, in Xinjiang Region. It will become a Man-made Oasis. (South China Morning Post, 04/03/1999) Logging and over-rearing of livestock caused soil degradation in dry areas of Inner Mongolia. Many forests have turned to deserts. Last year, the Conservancy Association of Hong Kong collaborated with the Inner Mongolia Government to carry out a tree-planting project in a region 400 miles from Beijing. This project was called Green gift to China and targeted to plant 120,000 trees from 1998 to About 800 volunteers from Hong Kong joined this project. (Tai Kung Pao, 07/03/1999) A greening policy has been implemented in the capital of Hebei 22

23 since the 1980s. About 41 million mu (2.7 million ha) of planted forests was established after the greening of plains, the planting of shelter forests and sand-control projects. Forest resources have been continuously growing from 7.8 million mu (0.5 million ha) of forest areas in the 1940s to 53.5 million mu (3.5 million ha) recently. The percentage coverage of forest areas increased from 3.4% to 19%. Different kinds of forest by-products are utilized including wood, fruits and flowers. The development of eco-tourism has also been promoted. (Tai Kung Pao, 06./04/1999) The estimate of the number of of Brown Eared Pheasants in Shanxi has increased from 2400 individuals in the past to 4500 individuals recently. The estimated number of Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) has also incr eased from 2 90 to 500 individuals. The area of forest was extended to 500 hectares in four nature reserves after setting apart the hills for tree growing. (People s Daily, 13/04/1999) Research indicated that the number of Tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in northeast China has rapidly decreased. Not more than 20 individuals can now be found. A group of specialists from China, the United States and Russia conducted research on the habitats of tigers at Wandashan and Changbashan in Heilongjiang and Jilin from January to March There were 5 to 8 tigers in Heilongjiang and about 10 individuals in Jilin. (Ming pao, 14/ 04/1999) Great effort has been put in protecting the Sanjiang Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang, one of the major wetlands in China, during the past two years. The protection measures include prohibiting the use of lands for farming, building irrigation works and forbidding catching fish in lakes and rivers for three years. More than 1,700 mu (113 ha) of vegetation has been recovered after the agricultural lands were surrendered. In addition, those people who destroyed the forest would be prosecuted. Hunting was also strictly forbidden. About 20, 000 meters in length of fishing nets were destroyed. Frogs and juvenile fishes were released into the wild. After implementing these measures, the bird community diversity at Sanjiang Nature Reserve has started to increase. This area has become an important habitat for many bird species such as Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus sp.), Japanese Crane (Grus japonensis) and Willow Grouse (Lagopus lagopus). (Tai Kung Pao, 22/04/1999) A group of researchers including geologists, botanists and zoologists discovered the track of South China Tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis), in a primary forest between Sichuan, Guizhou and Chongqing. (Sing Pao Daily News, 12/05/1999) Beidahe is located by the sea of Bohai, and has become a popular place for bird watching. Its special geographical location together with its lush forest, abundant fresh waters and food supply make it a good stopover place for migratory birds of East Asia. According to the observations of ornithologists and bird enthusiasts from all over the world, 405 species (i.e. about one-third of 1253 bird species in China) were recorded in Beidaihe and its vicinity, including 68 nationally protected species such as the Japanese Crane (Grus japonensis). (Mingpao, 19/ 07/1999) Pine forests in Anhui were attacked by a nematode which is spreading at an alarming rate of km/year. A Pine-less belt was constructed to avoid the nematode spreading to Huangshan. This kind of nematode can destroy a 100-year-old pine within just one month. It was discovered that the nematode originated from some wooden packing materials from the USA and Japan. To rectify the situation, China announced that starting from January 2000, all imports should avoid using wooden packaging materials unless proper sterilization has been done. (Apple Daily, 29/12/1999) The forest and wildlife resources in Tibet are very rich. The total area of forest in Tibet is about 7.17 million ha with over 6,400 higher plant species and over 2,300 wild animal species. In order to conserve the vulnerable ecological environment in Tibet, several measures have been adopted by Tibet Autonomous Region Forestry Department. These measures include banning the export of logs and timber, and strictly enforcing the regional logging permit system. Moreover afforestation, planting of grasses and conservation of wi ld anima ls have been strengthened. (Xinhua News Service, 10/03/2000) 23

24 ( ) M. J. Bascombe, G. Johnston F. S. Bascombe Academic Press 1999 ISBN / 116 Carolus Linnaeus s Systema Nature (ed. 10), A1758 Heliophorus Neptis Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Ent.)

25 BOOK REVIEW The Butterflies of Hong Kong. Edited by M. J. Bascombe, G. Johnston & F. S. Bascombe, Academic Press, ISBN Reviewed by WANG Min South China Agricultural University Translated by Vera POON Butterflies (Order: Lepidoptera) are familiar and beautiful insect. Almost everyone is familiar with their colourful, patterned wings and their graceful, dance-like flights. For those who live in the remote area, they may not know the Giant Panda but certainly butterflies. Among insects, in which over 1 million species are described and many more are unknown to science, butterfly is the group that receives in the highest conservation concern. In addition to the many endangered species, butterfly is an important indicator of the status of ecosystem. The group can also be used as a representative of the large insect community, and helps to identify biodiversity hotspot. Butterflies and biodiversity in tropical and subtropical regions are richer and in higher abundance than any other parts of the world, in both species and numbers. However, as human population in these regions is dense, incidents of deforestation and urbanization leading to biodiversity loss happen everyday. Therefore how to preserve butterflies and the habitats that they depend on, so that human and butterflies can co-exist, is a pressing issue for biodiversity conservation. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is located in South China where the earliest bi-nominal named butterflies in China occurs (Carolus Linnaeus s Systema Naturae (ed. 10), 1758). Biodiversity conservation is undoubtedly highly important for the sustainable development in such a heavily populated area with advanced development in industry and commerce. Butterfly study in Hong Kong is much more advanced than any other areas in China because Hong Kong is a small place, with good international interflow of information and a solid foundation in butterfly research since its early years. At least 3 different books on Hong Kong butterflies have been published. Among these, the newly publishedthe Butterflies of Hong Kong is the most comprehensive, informative, and expensive one. A f t e r t h e t h r e e - p a g e I n t r o d u c t i o n a n d Acknowledgments, the authors present nine chapters (under two parts) dealing with the 219 recorded species and the stages of 166 of them. The first part presents the basic information, introducing Hong Kong s climate; land use; vegetation; biogeography, its surrounding areas, and the biology of butterfliles. Part two is the core of the book dealing with species diversity. The species account is arranged according to families, subfamilies, tribe and genera under the classification system of families of Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae. Information given under each species (or subspecies) includes diagnostic characteristics, biology, distributional range, venation, male genitalia figures, and the colour plates of adults and early stages (many plates of the early stages are illustrated for the first time). With these information, the identification of any butterflies encountered in the area will not pose a problem. The Appendices of the book supply readers with nectar sources, parasitoids and survey techniques of life cycle for butterflies. Survey on life cycle is an important aspect in butterfly conservation. This kind of survey is more often carried out in developed countries than in Southeast Asia. A major feature of the book is the record of the early stages of 116 butterfly species. Having similar past experience, I can image the authors hard work in getting this information. The authors had to carry camera in hands, binoculars on the neck, 25

26 and a rucksack on the back containing a tripod, camera lenses, breeding containers, notebook and reference books. With such a heavy load, they climbed up mountains, jumped across streams to look for eggs or larvae, and recorded food plants, forgetting the burning sun and their soaked clothing. When an unrecorded larva or pupa was recorded, all the fatigue would disappear at once. After returning home, they had to take care of the caterpillars by cleaning their faeces and going to the forest to collect food plants for them. It is inevitable to wait for several hours until midnight for an unrecorded pupa to become adult so the identity could be confirmed. With such an informative book, it is inevitable for some unforeseen limitations to occur. Here I think some of the scientific names under the genera Heliophorus and Neptis have to be reconsidered in the future. Also the large fonts used throughout the book, together with the blank spaces appeared in the colour plates have greatly increased the cost and weight of the book. In addition, the font style of scientific names (not in italic) in the legends of figures is different from other popular scientific publications, such as Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist (Ent.) and another great book The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea published by the same publishing house in the same year. Despite these minor imperfections, this work must rate very high among butterfly books published in Southeast Asia. Similar books on butterfly is rare even on a global basis, especially containing studies on both adults and early stages. The authors are to be congratulated on producing such a wonderful book, which will certainly have many readers in China. ( ) Moduza procris, photo taken at Xidamingshan, Guangxi (by Graham REEL) ( ) Lamproptera curius, photo taken at Shiwandashan, Guangxi (by John FELLOWES/ KFBG) 26

27 ( ) Malcolm L. Hunter 1999 ISBN ( ) ( ( ) Hunter ( ) ( ) Yrjo Haila ( ) Seymour Hunter Haila ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ( ) (Tsuga spp.) ( ) ( ( ) ( ) ( ) 27

28 ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) Seymour Hunter ( ), Lynn Maguire 28

29 BOOK REVIEW Maintaining Biodiversity in Forest Ecosystems. Edited by Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr. Cambridge University Press, ISBN Reviewed by John R. FELLOWES Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden The title of this book conveys the challenge we all face. It brings together authors from ten countries, and is pitched at graduate students, forest scientists and forest managers. I will attempt to summarise the contents. Part I includes two introductory chapters. The first is on biological diversity. Here Hunter (the editor) tries to dispel the confusion over the usage of the term biodiversity, and warns of the dangers of trying to quantify it without clear thinking about goals. This leads to the question of the values we attach to biodiversity, both intrinsic and instrumental, including potential value: In the face of all that we do not know about the potential, future values of biodiversity it is critical to keep options alive. We can never say of any species that it lacks value. He goes on to discuss such concepts as biological integrity, ecosystem integrity, and sustainability, each of which has a slightly different emphasis than biodiversity per se. Managing for biological integrity might focus more on retaining the roles of the most abundant species, while managing for biodiversity would seek primarily to retain all the rare ones. The second chapter by Seymour & Hunter introduces the principles of ecological forestry. This is distinguished by the emphasis placed on natural patterns and processes: understanding them, working in harmony with them, and maintaining their integrity, even when it becomes financially difficult or inconvenient to do so. Managing for ecological integrity has long implied a respect for soil, water quality and charismatic wild animals. Only more recently has it been recognised to encompass the structure and functions of the biota as a whole. The authors call for a coarse-filter approach, conserving diverse ecosystems and landscapes for the benefit of most species. Here they set the scene for consideration of the larger landscape scale and the smaller scale of forest stands. Part II covers topics at the landscape scale, with chapters on species composition (Ch. 3), dynamic forest mosaics (Ch. 4), abiotic factors (Ch. 5), forest edges (Ch. 6), islands and fragments (Ch. 7), riparian forests (Ch. 8), and forested wetlands (Ch. 9). All reveal hidden complexities. The influence of abiotic factors (Ch. 5) may call for forest management across the full gradients of elevation and soil productivity, if all forest species are to be retained. Such abiotic factors may be less influential than biotic ones in high-productivity tropical forests. Still, studies on Alaskan rainforests have revealed the surprising importance of windthrow, which may be relevant to us here in the typhoon belt. Forest edges (Ch. 6) may be drier than forest interiors, or conversely their denser foliage may cause more water condensation, making them wetter; their effects on flora and fauna are correspondingly unpredictable. The impact of forest fragmentation (Ch. 7) on a species is not necessarily the same as the direct impact of forest loss, though the two effects are hard to tease apart. Author Yrjo Haila also illustrates the difference between pattern and process: a smaller fragment may have fewer bird species (a pattern), but is this because it has lost some species, or just that it can support fewer individuals? If loss has occurred, is it through reduced births, increased deaths, or changes in dispersal? Haila discusses the management 29

30 implications of such fragmentation issues, and raises questions relevant to all forestry projects. makes it sound obvious, but humans don t seem to be very good at this sort of approach. Part III examines the smaller scale of forest stand management, with chapters on dying, dead and down trees (Ch. 10), vertical structure (Ch. 11), plantation forestry (Ch. 12), special species (Ch. 13) and genetic diversity (Ch. 14). Roles of dead and dying wood (Ch. 10) are varied, and of major importance in the forest ecology. Special efforts have been made in some places to preserve the primary cavity excavators such as woodpeckers on which secondary tree-hole using animals depend. Seeds of hemlocks (Tsuga spp.) and other trees, ferns and mosses germinate on fallen logs. Such ecological influences pertain to plantations (Ch. 12) as they do to natural forests, and even intensive silviculture can vary widely in its impacts on biodiversity according to the incorporation of ecological knowledge at both the landscape and stand scale. Part IV attempts a synthesis for those wishing to turn theory to practice. Here we cover restoration ecology (Ch. 15), forest reserves (Ch. 16), forest organization, management and policy (Ch. 17), the economic perspective (Ch. 18) and social perspectives (Ch. 19). Much of the emphasis is on incorporating values into decision-making. Management analysis (Ch. 17) involves expressing values as objectives, and enabling the realisation of these objectives to be measured. Different studies on how people value high-biodiversity old-growth forests (Ch. 18) have yield varied conclusions about the success of measuring these values, but agree, at least, that people value them highly. In the final chapter, Lynn Maguire traces conflicts over forest use to different value systems, such as those of the old-school conventional forester vs. the newcomer with a biodiversity fixation, or the management authority vs. the local population. She calls for collaborative planning with the participation of both public and the authorities, where scientists help to enlighten participants as to the consequences of different actions, and the public and authorities work together to make decisions. She Overall the book is very well laid out, with good consistency of style between chapters, and working definitions are slipped comfortably into the flow of the text when new terms are used. The result is a vibrant fusion of forestry and conservation biology. One point to emerge is a reminder that some foresters had a stewardship ethic long before the words ecology or biodiversity were born. For myself and perhaps many readers the main limitation of the book is the northern temperate perspective, which is no problem when made explicit, but some general chapters give insufficient attention to tropical and subtropical ecosystems, and the Old World as a whole. For example, in summarising the murky history of custodial forestry (that which seeks to protect the forest from overexploitation and fire), Seymour & Hunter begin in middle-ages Europe, ignoring the remarkable parallel development of custodial systems in indigenous peoples of Asia and elsewhere. Some of these must date back thousands of years; I rather doubt the author s implication that such systems were new to North America in the 19 th century. Likewise, the subject of traditional agroforestry, based on emulating the vertical structure of natural forests in multi-functional systems, is given disappointingly scant attention. Clearly scientists, as well as forest managers, need to pay more attention to indigenous knowledge. But I am being too demanding. I have attempted to convey the essence of this book, and fear I have failed. It is too rich, and demands to be read directly. But one mystery remains. That is the conspicuous absence of the China experience in this global review. Is the revival of ecological forestry too new here, or have we simply failed to tell the world about our successes and problems? Perhaps this volume will help to inspire an increased asking of questions, and renewed dynamism in the study and practise of ecological forestry. 30

31 Paphiopedilum micranthum (Orchidaceae) in Southwest China. The Orchid Review 107(1227), Kushlan, James A. & Hafner, Heinz ( ) ( ) (263) ( ) reintroduction into a degraded tropical landscape, Hong 2000 Kong, P.R. China. Re-introduction News 17, Ades, G.W.J., The species composition, distribution and population size of Hong Kong bats. Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society 22, ( ) Ades, G.W.J. & Dudgeon, D., Insect seasonality in Hong Kong: A monsoonal environment in the northern tropics. Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society 22, ( ) Symposium on Regional Environmental Impact 1999 Assessment, May 1999, Vol. II. Open University of 19 Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ( ) (6) Frohlich, J. & K.D. Hyde, Biodiversity of palm 2000 fungi in the tropics. Are global fungal diversity estimates realistic? Biodiversity and Conservation 8(2) , ( ) (1) (2) Corlett, R.T., Xing Fu-wu, Ng Sai-chit, Chau, L.K.C. & Wong Mei-yin, Hong Kong vascular plant: distribution and status. Memoirs of Hong Kong Natural History Society 23, 1. ( ) Cribb, P., Luo Y.B. & Siu, G., Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum var. esquirolei in southern China. The Orchid Review 107(1228), ( ) Cribb, P., Luo Y.B., McGough, N. & Siu, L.P., The distribution, ecology and conservation status of Dudgeon, D. & M.W.N. Lau, Romer frog ( ) (6) Fellowes, J.R., Exotic ants in Asia: is the mainland at risk? The case of Hong Kong. Aliens 9, 5-6. ( ) Fellowes, J.R., Hau, C.H. & Lau, M.W.N., Assessing the regional status of South China fauna and flora. Proceedings of the China Mainland Hong Kong (2)

32 2000 some Paphiopedilum species (Orchidaceae) in 8(2) Kwok, H.K. & R.T. Corlett, Seasonality of a forest bird community in Hong Kong, South China. Ibis 141: ( ) 1999 S.Y. Lee, Foraging flights of nesting egrets and 19 herons at a Hong Kong egretry, South China. (6) Southwest China. Lindleyana 14 (1), ( ) (2) Wong, L.C., Richard T. Corlett, Llewellyn Young & Joe Waterbirds 22 (3), ( ) Lau, M.W.N. & Dudgeon, D., Composition and distribution of Hong Kong Amphibian fauna. Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society 22, ( ) Sandra Brown (5) Gymnosperms and Angiosperms of Hong Kong. 19(6) Wu Shiew-hung & Wicky Lee, Pteridophytes of Hong Kong. Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society 23, 5 0. ( ) Corlett, R.T (4) Xing Fu-wu, Ng Sai-chit & Chau, L.K.C., Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society 23, ( ) Siu Lai-ping, Gloria, Orchidaceae of Hong Kong. Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society 23, ( ) (3) (2) (4) Ternan, J.L. & R. Neller, The erodibility of soils beneath wildfire prone grasslands in the humid tropics, Hong Kong. Catena 36, ( ) Tsi, Z.-H., Luo Y.-b., Cribb, P.J., McGough, N., Siu, G. & Chau, L., A preliminary report on the population size, ecology and conservation status of (2) (2)

33 A selection of recent publications Books and reports Kushlan, James A. & Hafner, Heinz, Heron Conservation. Academic Press, UK. Mackinnon, J., Phillips, K. & He Fen-qi, A Field Guide to the Birds of China. Oxford University Press (English version). Tam, Nora F.Y. and Wong, Y.S., Hong Kong Mangroves. City University of Hong Kong Press, Hong Kong. Scientific papers Ades, G.W.J., The species composition, distribution and population size of Hong Kong bats. Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society 22, Ades, G.W.J. & Dudgeon, D., Insect seasonality in Hong Kong: A monsoonal environment in the northern tropics. Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society 22, An Shuqing, Zhu Xuelei, Wang Zhengfeng, et al., The plant species diversity study on tropical montane rain forest on Wuzhi Mountain, Hainan. Acta Ecologica Sinica 19(6), (Chinese). Cao Min, Fu Xian-Hui, Yang Yi-Guang, Tang Yong, He Yong-Tao, Patch dynamics in tropical forests and the maintenance of tree species diversity. Chinese Biodiversity 8(2), (Chinese). Chau, L.K.C., Lau, M.W.N., Hau, C.H. & Siu, L.P., The present status and conservation of the Biodiversity in Hong Kong. Chinese Biodiversity 8(1), (Chinese, with English abstract). Corlett, R.T., Xing Fu-wu, Ng Sai-chit, Chau, L.K.C. & Wong Mei-yin, Hong Kong vascular plant: distribution and status. Memoirs of Hong Kong Natural History Society 23, 1 4. Cribb, P., Luo Y.-b. & Siu, G., Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum var. esquirolei in southern China. The Orchid Review 107(1228), Cribb, P., Luo Y.B., McGough, N. & Siu, L.P., The distribution, ecology and conservation status of Paphiopedilum micranthum (Orchidaceae) in Southwest China. The Orchid Review 107(1227), Cui Shuhong et al., Definition of ecotourism and its practice in China. Environmental Protection 9 (263), (Chinese). Dudgeon, D. & M.W.N. Lau, Romer frog reintroduction into a degraded tropical landscape,hong Kong, P.R. China. Re-introduction News 17, Fang Ding, Two new species of the Lauraceae from Guangxi, China. Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica 37 (6), (Chinese). Fellowes, J.R., Exotic ants in Asia: is the mainland at risk? The case of Hong Kong. Aliens 9, 5-6. Fellowes, J.R., Hau, C.H. & Lau, M.W.N., Assessing the regional status of South China fauna and flora. Proceedings of the China Mainland Hong Kong Symposium on Regional Environmental Impact Assessment, May 1999, Vol. II. Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Frohlich, J. & K.D. Hyde, Biodiversity of palm fungi in the tropics. Are global fungal diversity estimates realistic? Biodiversity and Conservation 8, Hao Ri-ming, Huang Zhi-yuan, Liu Xing-jian, Wang Zhong-lei, Xu Hui-Qiang & Yao Zhi-gang, The natural distribution and characteristics of the rare and endangered plants in Jiangsu, China. Chinese Biodiversity 8(2), (Chinese). Hau, C.H., Fellowes, J.R., Lau, M.W.N. & Lee, K.S., Conservation and status of natural forests in three South China provinces. In: Lu, G.Y. & Lai, J. X. (eds.), Proceedings of the 4 th China-Taiwan National Parks and Protected Areas Conference, 13 April Chinese National Park Society, Taipei, (Chinese). 33

34 Hu Huijuan, Chen Jianrong, Sun Lei, et al., Population dynamics and nesting of three species of egret on Xiamen Dayu Island. Chinese Biodiversity 7(2), (Chinese). Jia Fenglong, Liang Geqiu, ChenZhenyao, et al., Species diversity of beetles of Mt. Wutongshan. Chinese Biodiversity 8(2), (Chinese). Kwok, H.K. & R.T. Corlett, Seasonality of a forest bird community in Hong Kong, South China. Ibis 141, Lin Chenchao, Calorific values and nutrient composition of the leaves of monsoon evergreen broadleaved forest and some forest-edge plants on Gushan Mountain in Fuzhou. Acta Ecologica Sinica 19(6), (Chinese). population size, ecology and conservation status of some Paphiopedilum species (Orchidaceae) in Southwest China. Lindleyana 14 (1), Wang Yongjun, Liao Wenbo & Chang Hong, Analysis on vegetative food resources and feeding habitats of Macaca mulatta from Neilingding Island, Guangdong Province. Chinese Biodiversity 7(2), (Chinese) Wong, L.C., Richard T. Corlett, Llewellyn Young & Joe S.Y. Lee, Foraging flights of nesting egrets and herons at a Hong Kong egretry, South China. Waterbirds 22 (3), Wu Shiew-hung & Wicky Lee, Pteridophytes of Hong Kong. Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society 23, Lau, M.W.N. & Dudgeon, D., Composition and distribution of Hong Kong Amphibian fauna. Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society 22, Xing, Fu-wu, Corlett, R.T. & Chau, L.K.C., The Floristics of Hong Kong. Journal of Tropical & Subtropical Botany 7(4), (Chinese). Mo Jiangming, Sandra Brown, Kong Guohui, et al., Nutrient distribution and cycling of a Masson pine planted forest in Dinghushan. Acta Ecologica Sinica 19(5), (Chinese). Xing Fu-wu, Ng Sai-chit & Chau, L.K.C., Gymnosperms and Angiosperms of Hong Kong. Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society 23, Ren Hai and Peng Shaoling, The characteristics of ecological energetics of the forest ecosystem in the successional process in Dinghushan, Guangdong, China. Acta Ecologica Sinica 19(6), (Chinese). Yang Yuewei, Ding Ping, Jiang Shiren and Zhuge Yang, Factors affecting habitat used by Elliot pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti) in mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests. Acta Zoologica Sinica 45(3), (Chinese). Siu Lai-ping, Gloria, Orchidaceae of Hong Kong. Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society 23, Su Hualong, Lin Yinghua, Li Diqiang, et al., Status of Chinese cranes and their conservation strategies. Chinese Biodiversity 8(2), (Chinese) Ternan, J.L. & R. Neller, The erodibility of soils beneath wildfire prone grasslands in the humid tropics, Hong Kong. Catena 36, Tsi, Z.-H., Luo Y.-b., Cribb, P.J., McGough, N., Siu, G. & Chau, L., A preliminary report on the Zhang Shuyi, Feng Jiang, Li Zhenxin, et al., Comparison of echolocation signals in three species of bats at fly. Acta Zoologica Sinica 45(4), (Chinese). Zhou Wei, A preliminary study on endangerment mechanism of freshwater fish species in wetland ecosystem of Yunnan. Chinese Biodiversity 8(2), (Chinese). Zhu Hua, Xu Zai-Fu, Wang Hong & Li Bao-Gui, Floristic composition and change of rain forest fragments in Xishuangbanna, southern Yunnan. Chinese Biodiversity 8(2), (Chinese). 34

35 Wilderness Wilderness is the raw material out of which man has hammered the artifact called civilization. Wilderness was never a homogenous raw material. It was very diverse, and the resulting artifacts are very diverse. These differences in the end-product are known as cultures. The rich diversity of the world's cultures reflects a corresponding diversity in the wilds that gave them birth. For the first time in the history of the human species, two changes are now impending. One is the exhaustion of wilderness in the more habitable portions of the globe. The other is the world-wide hybridization of cultures through modern transport and industrialization. Neither can be prevented, and perhaps should not be, but the question arises whether, by some slight amelioration of the impending changes, certain values can be preserved that would otherwise be lost. To the laborer in the sweat of his labor, the raw stuff on his anvil is an adversary to be conquered. So was wilderness an adversary to the pioneer. But to the laborer in repose, able for the moment to cast a philosophical eye on his world, that same raw stuff is something to be loved and cherished, because it gives definition and meaning to his life. This is a plea for the preservation of some tagends of wilderness, as museum pieces, for the edification of those who may one day wish to see, feel, or study the origins of their cultural inheritance. Written in 1948 by Aldo Leopold, American forester and environmentalist Aldo Leopold

36 Announcements 1999 to the KFBG Studentship These cover a wide range of 1999 biodiversity topics from the genetic to community levels, in man made as well as natural habitats. The four successful candidates were selected at the beginning of this year. They 22 are Miss Han Rong-lan (South China Institute of Botany), Mr. Huang Jian-hua (Guangxi Normal University), Miss Huang Jiuxiang (South China Agricultural University), and Mr. Zou Fa- 4 sheng (Zhong Shan University). Titles include: Diversity and taxonomy of Mycoheterotrophic Flowering Plants in South China; Cerambycidae (Coleoptera: Polyphaga) at Maoershan, Guangxi; Three species of Magnolia (Magnoliaceae) in South China and Bird Communities at Jianfengling, Hainan KFBG Biodiversity Studentship The KFBG Biodiversity Studentship for the year 2000 will 7 again offer up to 7studentships to students who are working on 1 7 biodiversity survey in natural habitat. It has been opened for 15 application since January Until July, we have received 15 applications. These projects are also very diverse. They include the ecological and taxonomical study of birds, forest arthropods, 9 forest stream fishes, amphibians and reptiles etc. Recently, we are selecting the suitable candidates to attend an interview in Guangzhou at September. The result will be announced in the next issue Next year, we will also provide the KFBG Biodiversity Studentship to students who are interested in biodiversity survey. For those who want to get more detailed information or wish ; : to apply for the 2001 KFBG Biodiversity Studentship, please [email protected] write or to the South China Biodiversity Team, KFBG, for application guidelines and form. Address: South China KFBG Biodiversity Studentship 1999 Biodiversity Team, Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden, Lam In 1999 KFBG launched a Biodiversity Studentship scheme. Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong Special The primary aim of the Studentship scheme is to assist young Administrative Region, China; or [email protected]. scientists to acquire the knowledge and skills to survey plants and animals in the wild. Last year, we received 22 applications Invitation to specialists ( / ) 4. ( / ) (a) (b) / / (c) / In the next issue of Living Forests, we intend to produce an inventory of biologists and naturalists with specialist knowledge of particular groups of terrestrial and freshwater organisms living in the region of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan. The purpose of this is to assist conservation efforts by ensuring that the best use can be made of available expertise, and that the experts can, in turn, be given recognition for their valuable knowledge. We should like to list field biologists as well as taxonomists specializing in the biota of the region, with a brief summary of their taxonomic specialities. If you would like to be included in this list, please send us an or fax or letter, with the following information: 1. Name 2. Institution, address 3. Main expertise (taxa and/or biogeographic area) in field collection/identification 4. Main expertise (taxa and/or biogeographic area) in taxonomy 5. Specific research experience; any taxa studied in depth 6. Qualification/eligibility/willingness to supervise students at (a) B.Sc.; (b) M.Sc./M.Phil.; and/or (c) Ph.D. levels. Printed on recycled paper and vegetable-based ink 36