China has committed to protecting more than 700 giant pandas in Minshan – almost half the total surviving in the wild. The commitment to establish almost 1.6 million hectares of new protected areas in this southwest region of China means they will become interconnected population, helping ensure the future health and survival of this iconic species.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has recognized the efforts of China's Sichuan and Gansu Provinces to preserve giant panda habitat in the Minshan Mountains as a "Gift to the Earth," the global conservation organization's highest accolade for significant conservation achievements.

Shared by the provincial governments of Sichuan and Gansu, the Minshan landscape is known to be one of the most biologically diverse temperate forest landscapes on earth.

"The presentation of Gift to the Earth certificate to Sichuan and Gansu provinces is WWF's recognition of both provinces' longtime cooperative contribution to the biodiversity protection in Minshan," said James Leape, WWF International Director General, on Wednesday's ceremony.

The two provincial governments have committed to create new protected areas, improve management of existing areas, create of linking corridors, etc.

China's third national panda survey estimates that 1,600 panda survive in the wild, with the populations in Minshan accounting for 44.4% of the total population.

"WWF hopes that the nature reserves will expand continuously and more endangered wild species will be protected. We admire both provincial governments’ efforts and promise to continue supporting conservation work in this region," said Mr. Leape.

Sichuan has also agreed to retain a logging ban until 2010 covering 840,000 hectares of natural forest.

The Gansu provincial government has also expressed its commitment to maintain the logging ban covering 430,000 ha of forest. Together, Sichuan and Guizhou have established a total of 1,529,000 hectares of panda habitat since 1949. This corresponds to an area that is four times the size of Hawai.

"This commitment to panda conservation is of global importance," added WWF China Country Representative Dermot O'Gorman. "We hope that China will continue its conservation work to create a bright future in which humans live in harmony with nature."

(Chinanews October 27, 2006)