COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT FOR SEAGRASS
CONSERVATION AT HEPU DEMONSTRATION SITE, SOUTH CHINA

Xiaoping Huang*, Siming Liang, Haibo Yao, Yun Ning, Daojian Huang
South China Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou,
Guangdong Province, China
E-mail: xphuang@scsio.ac.cn

With the aim of maintaining the existing biodiversity and environmental condition
and utilize the seagrass resources rationally and sustainably, a seagrass demonstration
site has been established in Hepu under the funds from UNEP/GEF as well as central
and local government of China since July 2005. This is to be accomplished through
maintaining the balance between utilization and conservation, based on community and
government involvement. For this purpose, the actions being taken in the
demonstration site mainly include: (1) Establishing cross sectoral management
framework for the sustainable use of the Hepu seagrass site; (2) Sustainability of site
management; (3) Conservation of seagrass bed ecosystem as major habitat in the site;
(4) Education and training for increased involvement of all stakeholders in preserving
the seagrass habitat.

From July 2005, many activities under the above 4 actions have been carried out. (1)
Founding the management board, which will consist of departments engaged in
environmental protection, ocean, maritime affairs, aquatic product etc., convening
meetings of the management board regularly to render reports of work progress &
plans. (2) Conducting widespread publicity, education and talent cultivation. Publicity
and instructive activities of various forms has been carried out in major scenic spots,
schools, and key areas of towns & villages. (3) Setting up the seagrass information
system, designing the county's first seagrass website, creating a primary seagrass
database and a management system. (4) Intensifying rectification to unlawful practices
within the demonstration site and doing an earnest job in protecting seagrass habitat.
Offering guidance for people protecting & making reasonable usage of seagrass and
restraining economic policies that contribute to impairment on seagrass. (5) Redoubling
scientific studies on seagrass and setting up dedicated research institutes to identify
monitor contents including seagrass species, area, biodiversity and endangered species
at the demonstration site.

To deliver more effective protection to seagrass, the following works will be
implemented. (1) Constructing the first seagrass education center in China. (2) Setting
up the seagrass information system; perfecting the county's first website dedicated to
seagrass. (3) Furthering studies on seagrass, cultivating researchers in the field,
intensifying international academic exchanges, and encouraging researchers to publish
their researching process as well as findings for sharing.

Keywords: seagrass, demonstration site, public awareness, co-management, Hepu,
South China

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