The Journal is published by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic in cooperation with the Cave Administration of the Czech Republic, the Krkonoše Mts. National Park Administration, the Bohemian Forest Mts. National Park Administration, the Podyjí National Park Administration and the The Bohemian Switzerland National Park Administration. It has been published since 1946.
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Nature Conservation 3/2011 — 7. 10. 2011 — International Nature Conservation — Print article in pdf
The Giant Panda – A Nature Conservation Icon in the New Millennium
As a model flagship species, the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) has become a nature conservation icon worldwide. The popular species is confined to south-central China. Currently, it occurs in portions of six isolated mountain ranges (Minshan, Qinling, Qionglai, Liangshan, Daxiangling, and Xiaoxiangling) in Gansu, Shaanxi and Sichuan province.
Significant climatic changes combined with thousands of years of cultivation of lower and flatter habitats and hunting by humans caused the Giant pandas range to shrink to a remnant at the rugged western fringe of a once more expansive area. Results from the most recent survey, coordinated by the State Forestry Administration (SFA) of China and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), indicated a total population of approx. 1,600 individuals. This is over 40% higher than previous estimates. It is believed that the increase in the estimated number of pandas is due largely to differences in survey methodology and a larger search area, as well as possibly an actual increase in panda population size in some areas. Giant pandas spend about 55% of the day (both daytime and night-time) feeding, mainly on bamboo which comprises 99% of their diet. They utilize over 60 species of bamboo, but 35 species comprise their main food source. Pandas are associated with old-growth forest more than with any ecological variable other than bamboo. In May 2008, an intensive earthquake had afflicted the Chinese province Sichuan. In addition to human losses and property damage, ecosystems harbouring the Giant Panda key habitats were also significantly affected. Since poaching of pandas has been largely controlled, the major conservation issue is restoring their habitat. Presently, there are nearly 60 protected areas in China established for the Giant pandas conservation. In addition to creating new reserves, China has worked to increase and improve forested area outside reserves and to connect the individual protected areas by habitat corridors.