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Wudalianchi Geological Park
五大连池风景名胜区

First Listed

2014

Area
1060km2

Why is it Green Listed?

Wudalianchi Geological Park (“the Park”)is located in Heihe City, Heilongjiang Province,covering a total area of 1,060 square kilometers. There are 14 volcanoes and 5 major volcanic barrier lakes in the Park. The Park is known as “natural volcano museum” and an “open volcano textbook” because of its “most complete preserved, most concentrated distribution and most complete category” volcanic geology and geomorphology in the new and old periods. The Park is also the kingdom of wildlife and the MAB Biosphere Reserve. There are 1,044 species of wild plants in 143 families and 428 genera, including 194 species of wild Chinese medicine and 144 species of wild animals in 61 families.

As one of the first national scenic spots named in China, Wudalianchi Geological Park (五大连池风景名胜区) was selected as one of the first 24 Green List Protected Areas by IUCN in 2014, it is not only the recognition of Wudalianchi’s good management of the Park for the past years, but also a motivation for Wudalianchi to keep up the good work to maintain the title.

 

作为中国最早的一批国家级风景名胜区,五大连池风景名胜区在2014年被IUCN评为首届24个绿色名录保护地中的一个。成为绿色名录保护地不仅是对五大连池多年来对保护地良好管理的肯定,也是五大连池继续良好管理的动力。

Hou Ming, Secretary and Director of Wudalianchi Party Committee and Administrative Committee

Key Achievements

Conservation

  • Volcanic geology and geomorphology are kept in good condition, there is no trace of damage.
  • Environment indicator plant such as thyme has increased in quantity, so are fishes and birds, wildlife habitat is under effective protection.
  • Natural ecosystems are well maintained, structure and function remains intact.

Good governance

  • Wudalianchi Management Committee was set up in 2000 to exercise the responsibilities of unified management of Wudalianchi Geological Park.
  • The system of laws and regulations is complete and complied.
  • The Management Committee has established and implemented effective management mechanisms and plans to protect and manage through effective monitoring and cooperation.

Community benefits

  • The Management Committee values the employment of people in local communities, and guides local residents to spontaneously participate in the protection and management of the protected area.
  • Local communities are provided entrepreneurial opportunities for better livelihood.

Site Attributes

WDPA ID

Size
1060km2

Designation(s)
UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve/UNESCO World Geo-park/IUCN Greenlist

IUCN Category
V

Year Established
1982

Marine Protected Area
No

Governance Type
Government-delegated management

Site Agency
Wudalianchi Management Committee

Site Manager
Mingguang Niu

EAGL Evaluation
20.08.2020

GL Committee Submission
28.08.2020

EAGL Chair
Keping Ma

ASI Reviewer
Wenwei Xia

Site Summary

Wudalianchi Geological Park (“the Park”)is located in Heihe City, Heilongjiang Province,covering a total area of 1,060 square kilometers. There are 14 volcanoes and 5 major volcanic barrier lakes in the Park. The Park is known as “natural volcano museum” and an “open volcano textbook” because of its “most complete preserved, most concentrated distribution and most complete category” volcanic geology and geomorphology in the new and old periods. The Park is also the kingdom of wildlife and the MAB Biosphere Reserve. There are 1,044 species of wild plants in 143 families and 428 genera, including 194 species of wild Chinese medicine and 144 species of wild animals in 61 families.

The core values of Wudalianchi can be described as: (1) volcanic geology, representing a monogenetic volcanic field in an unusual intra-continental tectonic setting, and displaying a superb array of volcanic features; (2) a high diversity of species, animal and plant communities, as well as unusual combinations of some species by virtue of mixing and adaptation in a climatic and ecological transition zone (ecotone), and living evidence of successional development on the newer volcanic deposits; (3) great natural beauty.

1. NATURAL VALUES
MONITORING OF VALUES
THRESHOLDS OF SUCCESS
CONDITION OF VALUES
SUMMARY OF TRENDS AND RESULTS
Volcanoes and volcanic barrier lakes: There are 14 volcanoes and 5 major volcanic barrier lakes, which are the key protected objects in Wudalianchi. The Volcano Earthquake Monitoring Station and the Provincial Geological Monitoring Wudalianchi Substation have the responsibilities to carry out continuous monitoring and research on volcanoes and colcanic barrier lakes.
No acquisition of volcano rocks, volcanic ash and/or pumice rocks without permission from the Management Committee. No activity to cause pollution to the barrier lake.
There is no trace of damage, even the vegetation at the surface of
The geological relics of Wudalianchi have been well protected, including the bryophytes on the lava.
Wildlife: 1,044 species of wild plants in 143 families and 428 genera, and 144 species of wild animals in 61 families. A digital biological monitoring system with one main control center and six sub control centers are in place to monitor wild animals and plants in the region. 133 cameras are distributed in the reserve, realizing full coverage of resource supervision. In addition, collaboration with external partners to conduct periodic review and monitoring of wildlife.
No decrease in the number of species that are recently discovered in the protected area. Indicator plants representing natural restoration of environment and habitat keep increasing, or at least stay stable.
Logging ban has been implemented since 2004 to restore wildlife habitat. Environment indicator plant such as thyme has increased in quantity as well as fishes and birds, and wildlife habitat is under effective protection.
The ecosystem of Wudalianchi volcanic area is complete. Species of wild animals and plants are well preserved. The improved environment has attracted more birds and animals to breed in the region through returning farmland to forest, grassland and wetland.
Spring and mineral water of Wudalianchi: Heilongjiang Provincial Research Institute has set up the Scientific Research Institute of Wudalianchi to study the natural resources of Wudalianchi and the chemical composition of mineral water.
No more private wells to extract spring water in the region, no carbon dioxide leakage caused by inappropriate mining of spring water.
Only one large-scale water plant outside the reserve, which is managed in accordance with the protection and management regulations of Wudalianchi. The approval and management of mining rights are strictly implemented in accordance with the law.
The spring of Wudalianchi is water gushing up from the cracks and underground, and there is no excessive mining. All private wells have been closed, and water quality has been secured.
2. ECOSYSTEM SERVICE VALUES
MONITORING OF VALUES
THRESHOLDS OF SUCCESS
CONDITION OF VALUES
SUMMARY OF TRENDS AND RESULTS
Mineral water supplies: Wudalianchi is famous for its mineral water, which supports the development of tourism and convalescence and have been used in medical and health care for more than 100 years.
The exploitation of the mineral water should only be carried out in strict accordance with the regulations. No private wells are allowed. The amount of exploitation annual should be strictly monitored to prevent over exploitation.
All the private wells are closed, water quality has been secured. There is only one large-scale water plant outside the reserve, which is managed in accordance with the protection and management regulations of Wudalianchi. The approval and management of mining rights are strictly implemented in accordance with the law.
The valuable mineral water resources are well preserved and protected, the water continues to bring income to local people. In addition to bottled water, visitors come to Wudalianchi to enjoy water related products and services, such as tofu, spa, etc.
Unique and rare volcanic geology and landforms: there are marvelous and harmonious landscape of pearl-like lava-dammed lakes encircled in the arms of 14 volcanic mountains standing in regular array on the plain.
None of the 14 volcanos and their surrounded lakes should be damaged or in any way negatively impacted. The indicator plants and vegetation in the area should remain stable.
With continuing improvement of technologies and measures, all the volcanos and the lava-dammed lakes are well preserved through continuous monitoring.
The 14 volcanos and their surrounded lava-dammed lakes are well preserved. The visitors to Wudalianchi increases yearly which improves the livelihood of the locals dramatically.
3. CULTURAL VALUES
MONITORING OF VALUES
THRESHOLDS OF SUCCESS
CONDITION OF VALUES
SUMMARY OF TRENDS AND RESULTS
Holy Water Festival: was listed as National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010.
Locals are proud of the Holy Water Festival and are willing to participate and promote it. Locals possess the sense of ownership of the valuable water, thus spontaneously protect it.
The development of cultural industry has promoted the protection of multi-folk culture.
Holy Water Festival are held annually for more than 200 years, it is supported from government to residents.
Education and visitor experiences: Number of visitors to Wudalianchi Geological Park and feedback on exhibition operations and other education programs.
Steady increase of visitors to Wudalianchi Geological Park; visitors are controlled by calculated tourist carrying capacity. All negative reviews are responded to / dealt with by management.
Scientific research plank roads, sightseeing plank roads and other infrastructure are built to avoid tourists from destroying existing resources. China Volcano Geology Museum and other exhibition halls are in good condition and in good operations.
Number of visitors have increased over the years. Visitors experiences are rated good according to feedbacks from surveys/questionnaires distributed.

Conservation Summary


EAGL summary statement:

The protected area management agency is the Wudalianchi Management Committee, which includes government affairs and nature reserve management. This kind of governance structure arrangement is currently the most effective protected area management model. Wudalianchi have a short-term, medium-term and long-term development goals, and clarify the protection and management measures and specific management and control requirements of each functional zone. The management objectives of the Wudalianchi Management Committee are clear and transparent, with full participation of stakeholders. Through the management plan, the site has achieved the management objectives, fulfilled the responsibilities of various departments, and cooperated with scientific research institutions to organize the implementation of scientific research monitoring, disaster prevention and control, and achieve effective management of human activities and sustainable use of resources. The management committee attaches great importance to the employment of the indigenous people in the community, and guides residents to spontaneously participate in the protection. Following the review of the nomination of the site, the members of the EAGL welcomed the remarkable efforts of the team of managers for the conservation of values of the site and underlined the quality and the completeness of the file. All indicators are achieved or exceeded. On the basis of these elements, the EAGL unanimously voted in favor of the inscription of Wudalianchi on the protected area green list.

Reviewer statement:

The Reviewer validates Wudalianchi’s Green Listing process as being in conformity with the User Manual’s rules and procedures. The Reviewer approved the waiving of the site visit given the current COVID-19 situation with the following conditions : a site visit will be organised as soon as circumstances change and allow for travel and shall occur before the next mid-term GL review for Wudalianchi. A virtual stakeholder consultation meeting was approved by the reviewer in advance and it was held on August 11, 2020 with the ASI Reviewer presence. The voting meeting agenda was sent to the reviewer for approval in advance. The meeting was combined for two sites: Huangshan Mountain and Wudalianchi. All the EAGL members were requested to review the two sites’ application documents in COMPASS before the meeting.• Verification: the process of presentation of the results, and discussions between the members of the EAGL• Verification: the voting process including declaration of EAGL members’ COI, voting method and result announcement.

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