SAVE UNESCO'S
WORLD HERITAGE SITES
Three Parallel Rivers National Park, nominated as a World Heritage site in 2003, is on the southeast edge of the Tibetan Plateau in northern Yunnan Province in China. The protected areas stretch across several administrative regions, bordering Tibet Autonomous Region on the north, Sichuan Province on the east and Myanmar on the west.
The three main parallel rivers, Jinsha (Yangtze) River, Lancang (Mekong) River and Nujiang (Salween) River, plus the upper reaches of Dulong (Irrawaddy) River on the west, run parallel through the narrow, deep gorges between the side-by-side mountains named Yuling, Nushan, Gaoligong and Dandanglika, but discharge into three different seas of two oceans. The complexity of the geological structure represents a great value of geographic science.
The drastic changes in altitude in the low latitude valleys create a spectrum of diverse climate zones, ecosystems and habitats, which is the basis of its high biodiversity. It is the home of many endangered species but essentially fragile because they are fragmented by the hilly topography and human’s infrastructures.
The fragmented landscape also forms heterogeneous ethnic groups. People speaking Ngwi, Nung, Bai, Tibetan and Chinese languages reside in the river valleys. When the Tea Horse Road was in operation, this region was the crossroad between the Tibetan Plateau, Mainland China, Myanmar and the Indian subcontinent.
As one of the least developed areas in China, the local authorities thirst for economic development, leading to an increase in industries such as tourism, mining, hydroelectric plants, and transportation infrastructures. Many of these activities threaten the landscape and ecology of the World Heritage site and have been under debate between different parties for nearly two decades.
Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)
Located in the mountainous north-west of Yunnan Province in China, the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas is a natural serial property consisting of 15 protected areas, grouped into eight clusters. The Property contains an outstanding diversity of landscapes, such as deep-incised river gorges, luxuriant forests, towering snow-clad mountains, glaciers, and alpine karst, reddish sandstone landforms (Danxia), lakes and meadows over vast vistas.
The 1.7 million hectare site features sections of the upper reaches of three of the great rivers of Asia: the Yangtze (Jinsha), Mekong and Salween which run approximately parallel, north to south, through steep gorges which, in places, are 3,000 m deep and are bordered by glaciated peaks more than 6,000 m high. The property spans a large portion of the Hengduan Mountains, which is the major arc curving into Indochina from the eastern end of the Himalayas.
Being located in the convergent regions of the three world's major biogeographic realms, the property is in an epicentre of Chinese biodiversity. It may also harbour the richest biodiversity among the temperate areas of the world.
Identification of Threats
In 2003, Three Parallel Rivers Protected Areas was inscribed on the World Heritage List as a natural property at the 27th session of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee. However, at the 30th session held in Vilnius, Lithuania, the region was listed as one of the key projects under World Heritage Centre's(WHC) monitoring due to its worsening environment. A report, submitted by experts from the WHC and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), pointed out that the main threats the region is facing include planned hydroelectric development, mining exploration, dam construction and tourism development, etc.
Water infrastructure and hydropower development the major threats to the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan have caused a major impact not only on the community but most importantly has damaged the aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity as well as the landscape in the area.
As a result, the threat posed is still occurring very frequently and causes direct damage not only in the World Heritage Demarcated Sites but is eventually affected the surrounding sites, hence the risk can be rated as high in this case according to the framework for threat assessment.
Consequently, leaving a lot of negative impacts such as damaging the water quality as which caused loss of nutrient and mineral-rich sediments downriver that eventually affect the agricultural productivity and food security of the local community. Furthermore, causing the flooding of the upstream river valley and loss of economic and cultural value of drowned land and resources. These examples, however, are only just one of the impacts caused by the primary threats of the disaster, there are actually more by other threats as well.
According to a report by Greenpeace, an independent global campaigning network as well as acknowledgement from other organizations such as IUCN, UNESCO and so on. Illegal mining has also become the second major threat to forests in the Three Parallel Rivers in Yunnan Protected Area.
The mining activities in the mountains of north-west Yunnan on the eastern foothills of the Himalayas are said to destroy pristine forests in one of the world's most biodiverse regions, leading to deforestation, water pollution, and habitat loss as well as the loss of what they call “intact forest landscapes'' (IFL) — unbroken expanses of natural ecosystems, large enough that all native biodiversity, including viable populations of wide-ranging species, could be maintained.
.png)
.png)
As a result of the Greenpeace report, they have identified 24 mining sites in "intact forest landscapes" across China, including three within the Three Parallel Rivers national park. In addition, the region of the northwest part of Yunnan – including Diqing, Nujiang and Baoshan –has lost 270,000 hectares of its pristine forest during the period 2000-2013, accounting for over half of the degraded forest areas in China over the same time frame, causing degradation to the forest.
It is very crucial as China's rare pristine forests cover about 3% of its total land area and are primarily located in the high alpine areas of Sichuan, Tibet and Yunnan. Known as the "gene bank of the world," this region is home to many endangered species of animals and plants. However, it is threatened constantly by climate change and human activity.
Hence, the threat posed also occurs frequently and causes direct damage, the risk can be rated as high.
Assessment of Conservation Management Plans
In terms of overall planning assessment, the Three Parallel Rivers Natural Heritage Site spans more than three administrative municipalities in Yunnan Province and has management regulations in place from national to local governments and organisations, including:
1. Regulations on the Protection of the Three Parallel Rivers World Natural Heritage Site in Yunnan Province
3. Regulations on the Management of Scenic and Historic Areas in Yunnan Province
However, the lack of actionable guidance remains a prominent problem. There are currently regulations in place for some of the creatures with a higher survival risk, several types of problematic development issues, and some priority areas, but there is a lack of interaction between the various departments, no overall planning and management, and only doing things in their own jurisdictions to the neglect of the possible impact on other areas.
At the same time, the lack of boundary demarcation can have a negative impact on the nature site. The lack of infrastructure may result in uncontrollable human damage or the displacement of indigenous people.
Our second assessment is focused on the status of the hydropower plant.
Since 2018, hundreds of small hydropower stations have been dismantled by the Chinese government in order to protect the natural environment. At the same time, the hydropower authorities have issued "Opinions on the clean-up and rectification of small hydropower in the Yangtze River Economic Zone" to strictly control the construction of hydropower plants in the relevant river basin. The construction of hydropower stations in the river basin is strictly controlled.
However, the debate on hydroelectric facilities has never ended.
According to natural heritage conservationists, the construction of artificial structures destroys the original environment and interferes with organisms' natural migration. The redundant power generation will also contribute to the development of industry in the vicinity, and the rapid growth of the industry is a significant driver of environmental damage. In addition to industry, there are new industries that will be supported by electricity, which in turn will lead to the construction of a large number of small hydroelectric plants.
Supporters of hydropower do not see it that way. Compared to thermal or nuclear power, they believe that hydropower is a good clean source of energy and that the construction of small-scale hydroelectric power stations not only does not hinder biological activity, but on the contrary, provides effective artificial control over the amount of water in rivers and prevents the impact of natural disasters such as floods on the basin.
.png)
At present, there is no reliable consensus between the two sides, and the government's regulation of "strict control" actually provides some space for manipulation of hydropower construction and creates instability in environmental management.
The natural environment has blurred boundaries, with extensive biological exchanges extending into Myanmar and the main core areas within China. The national parks currently established by the Chinese government aim to enhance biodiversity management within defined boundaries. However, these national parks are smaller than the World Natural Heritage sites and smaller than organisms' natural migration areas.
There is also a lack of detailed management of the abundant biological species. The Yunnan Provincial Department of Ecology has issued the Yunnan Province Biodiversity Conservation Regulations. It is a regulation that sets out management authorities and management principles. For the various species specifically, there is a lack of a broad, well-researched approach to conservation guidance. Only a few essential endangered animals have their own management regulations, which fall far short of what is needed for biodiversity conservation.
The three parallel rivers area is a magnificent landscape, but with poor transport and tourism infrastructure, it is less accessible to large numbers of tourists. Currently, the "Yunnan Provincial Regulations on Scenic Areas" restrict the construction of large-scale tourist facilities. However, the lack of infrastructure in protected natural heritage areas can also be detrimental to nature reserves when small tourists drive-in.
The Chinese government has relocated the inhabitants of the core natural heritage reserve in masse to government public construction plots in neighbouring cities and towns.
At the same time, jobs in handicraft factories are arranged for them to prevent these ecological migrants from losing their jobs or being forced to work outside their hometowns. This is a good solution because the natural heritage sites previously lacked infrastructure, and living conditions were poor, with many indigenous people making a living by hunting and logging. It can't let them maintain their original mode of living if the government wants to protect the ecosystem.
Moving out en masse will improve living conditions, and organised handicraft production will also pass on some intangible cultural heritage.
Suggested Conservation Management Strategies
Firstly, a strategy of boundary delimitation should be implemented; natural heritage boundaries are difficult to define and, therefore, often require ambiguity in formulating management regulations. Core and buffer zones should be delineated according to the density of distribution and migration patterns of biological species, using precise markers such as rivers, mountains and roads, and clearly marked in management guidance programmes, using multi-layered buffer zones to gradually transition the nature reserve domain from areas of human activity.
Secondly, we propose a strategy of interregional cooperation. Nature has no national boundaries, and creatures interact and migrate across administrative borders. It is recommended that the governments of cities in China's Yunnan province cooperate with each other, with the connected Tibet Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, and with neighbouring Myanmar, to delineate core, buffer and associated sanctuary zones, and to make joint efforts to protect the World Natural Heritage sites.
Thirdly, we find it necessary to build small-scale tourist sites in non-core conservation areas. Building the necessary infrastructure in an environmentally friendly and reversible way, disposing of waste in a uniform manner, while providing convenience and necessary guidance to visitors, is a way to promote local tourism.
Lastly, strategies should also be implemented to enhance community culture.
More than ten Chinese ethnic groups have settled in and around The Three Parallel Rivers. The limited transport system has left these inhabitants with the most authentic ethnic customs and culture, but also with poverty, which some scholars call 'green poverty'. Therefore, it is important to find sustainable ways to involve the inhabitants in the conservation of their natural heritage, both to improve local conditions and preserve natural resources. Alternatively, ecological migration can be carried out to provide jobs in new settlements related to their own customs and culture.
The End.
Bibliography
National Forestry and Grassland Administration. State of Conservation Report: Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas (Beijing: National Forestry and Grassland Administration, People’s Republic of China, 2020). Accessed October 17, 2021. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1083/documents/.
“China May Shelve Plans to Build Dams on Its Last Wild River.” 2016. Science. May 12, 2016. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/160512-china-nu-river-dams-environment.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre. n.d. “The Criteria for Selection.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Accessed November 3, 2021. https://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria/.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre. n.d. “Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Accessed November 3, 2021. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1083/.
China Dialogue. ‘Campaigners Re-Ignite Nu River Dam Debate’, 11 February 2013. https://chinadialogue.net/en/energy/5694-campaigners-re-ignite-nu-river-dam-debate/.
‘The Development and Prospects of Small Hydropower in China 2021’. Accessed 25 October 2021. https://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H3_AP202105241493572417_1.pdf?1621855726000.pdf.
‘[COP15 Spring City Invitation] Six initiatives to build a biodiversity conservation core area in Nujiang|Yunnan Information News’. Accessed 31 October 2021. https://www.ynxxb.com/view/c803a8807dd44044949ead2bf920d379.
‘Yunnan Nujiang Prefecture: Canyon Secret Green Treasures’. Accessed 31 October 2021. https://www.forestry.gov.cn/tghl/934/20211019/090321535305647.html.
‘Yunnan Water Resources Overview_Yunnan Water Resources Department’. Accessed 25 October 2021. http://wcb.yn.gov.cn/html/2021/shuiligaikuang_1021/52794.html.
‘People’s Daily: From poverty alleviation to rural revitalization, small hydropower takes on big mission - From poverty alleviation to rural revitalization, small hydropower takes on big mission - PowerElectricity.com International’. Accessed 25 October 2021. https://power.in-en.com/html/power-2394569.shtml.
‘Looking at the development of hydropower in the 14th Five-Year Plan from a historical perspective_power.com’. Accessed 25 October 2021. http://mm.chinapower.com.cn/zx/hyfx/20210611/80654.html.
‘From rapid development to emergency braking, how should small hydropower position itself? -International Power Network’. Accessed 25 October 2021. https://power.in-en.com/html/power-2386750.shtml.
‘[National Park System Pilot Progress No. 9 - Shangri-La Pudacuo National Park] - National Development and Reform Commission’. Accessed 31 October 2021. https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/fzggw/jgsj/shs/sjdt/202104/t20210426_1277473.html?code=&state=123.
‘What happened to them when they called in a small hydro plant on Xianyu?’. Accessed 25 October 2021. https://www.yicai.com/news/101100427.html.
‘CCTV News Report! This case in Yunnan was selected as a typical case of ecological restoration in China-COP15 Newsroom’. Accessed 31 October 2021. https://www.cop15news.com/focus/2021-10/29/c_1211424419.htm.
‘Nujiang hydropower plant construction should be slowed down_Finder Issue 92’. Accessed 2 November 2021. http://discover.news.163.com/special/nujiang/.
‘13th Five-Year Plan for Hydropower Development (2016-2020)’. Accessed 25 October 2021. http://www.nea.gov.cn/135867663_14804701976251n.pdf.
‘Biodiversity: Meltdown in Tibet’. Accessed 7 November 2021. https://www.meltdownintibet.com/f_biodiversity.htm.
‘CGTN Nature: Three Parallel Rivers Series | Ep. 9: Eden of Niru People’. Accessed 7 November 2021. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-05-07/CGTN-Nature-Three-Parallel-Rivers-Series-Ep-9-Eden-of-Niru-People-Qi3EBetZhm/index.html.
‘Chinese Ethnic Tradition Kept Alive: Lahu People’s Weaving’. Accessed 7 November 2021. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-10-09/Chinese-ethnic-tradition-kept-alive-Lahu-people-s-weaving-UrBGqrp7Lq/index.html.
Hennig, Thomas, Wenling Wang, Darrin Magee, and Daming He. ‘Yunnan’s Fast-Paced Large Hydropower Development: A Powershed-Based Approach to Critically Assessing Generation and Consumption Paradigms’. Water 8, no. 10 (22 October 2016): 476. https://doi.org/10.3390/w8100476.
‘Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas Diqing(Shangri-La), Diqing(Shangri-La) Attraction’. Accessed 7 November 2021. https://m.visitourchina.com/diqing-shangri-la/attraction/three-parallel-rivers-of-yunnan-protected-areas.html.
Tone, Sixth. ‘Environmentalists Sue Developers of Yunnan Hydropower Station’. Sixth Tone, 27 February 2018. https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1001808/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sixthtone.com%2Fnews%2F1001808%2Fenvironmentalists-sue-developers-of-yunnan-hydropower-station.
Guo Xiang, Wu Ruidong, Yang Feiling, and Wang Junjun. ‘Study on the Spatial Distribution Pattern of Tourist Attractions in the “Three Parallel Rivers” Area’. Journal of Yunnan University (Natural Science Edition) 42, no. 5 (2020): 992–1003.