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Yinggeling Nature Reserve

Description
Yinggeling is a nature reserve in the central mountains of Hainan Island, China, at around 109o32'E, 19o03'N. It harbours the largest remaining remnant of China’s tropical forests, which once extended across the region. It is one of the most biodiverse parts of the country, an Important Bird Area, and a key site within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. The name ‘Yinggeling’ means ‘Parrot Range.’ This is thought to derive from a conspicuous lower summit ‘Yinggezui’ which is said to resemble a parrot’s bill, but the area is also the last refuge of wild parrots (specifically Red-breasted Parakeet) in South China.

History
The biodiversity conservation importance of the Yinggeling forests was overlooked for many years due to its remoteness, though it was recognised in some sources. Following the advice of field biologists, officials of the Hainan Forestry Department (HFD), the responsible authority, recognised the need for better information and protection. In the early 2000s HFD approached Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG), a Hong Kong-based non-government organisation with extensive experience of rapid biodiversity assessment, about helping to protect the site, and a joint expedition was launched in 2003 ; the team encountered more impressive primary forest than in any of their previous surveys in South China. In 2005-06 KFBG supported a series of further biodiversity surveys, as well as a study of how local people used natural resources. The findings underlined the conservation importance of Yinggeling, and the need to protect its biodiversity.

The site became a provincial nature reserve in 2007, becoming at 505 km2 the largest protected tropical forest area in East Asia. Despite having limited resources the nature reserve team developed rapidly, recruiting various qualified young staff to lead the conservation work in challenging conditions. KFBG’s involvement also continued, aided by the secondment of a team member as the seconded deputy director of the reserve, with extensive training and community engagement continuing to the present day. Though many conservation threats remain, Yinggeling has been cited by protected-areas officials in southern China as a model reserve in view of its open and creative management and motivated field staff.

Climate and landscape
Mean monthly temperature in the Yinggeling area (1900-2010) was around 18oC in midwinter and 27oC in midsummer (altitude not specified). Annual rainfall since the 1940s has averaged around 1900 mm, with a range from 1200 to 2700 mm. Most of the rain falls from May to October, especially during typhoons from the Pacific. Yinggeling occupies a rugged mountain landscape, from 200 to 1811 m above sea level. The two main river systems of Hainan are supplied by the Yinggeling mountains. The northern slopes drain into the Nandujiang, which flows north towards Haikou. The southern slopes drain into the Changhuajiang which flows to the west coast. Yinggeling Nature Reserve adjoins the nature reserves of Jiaxi to the west, in Ledong County, and Bawangling to the northwest, in Changjiang County.

Biodiversity
The fauna and flora of Yinggeling is mainly of tropical affinities, with some island-endemic species. Surveys beginning in 2003 discovered the new-to-science Yinggeling Tree Frog Rhacophorus yinggelingensis and many new records for Hainan. Threatened plants at Yinggeling include the Critically Endangered Bretschneidera sinensis and the Endangered Cycas hainanensis, Cycas taiwaniana and Hopea hainanensis. At least 282 fern species have been recorded from Yinggeling Nature Reserve, 63% of the Hainan total. New plant species continue to be discovered at Yinggeling (e.g. Munronia yinggelingensis ).

Threatened fauna include Hainan Partridge Arborophila ardens, Hainan Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus hainanus and Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea, all globally Vulnerable. Surveys during 2005 found 140 bird species.

Surveys record 75 fish taxa (species or subspecies) from the Yinggeling area, over 70% of the island’s freshwater fish fauna. Of these 62 species were found in recent surveys. The northern slopes (Nandujiang catchment) support more fish species characteristic of floodplains while the southern Changhuajiang is dominated by hillstream species. Highest fish diversity was in the Nankai River of the Nandujiang catchment, and in tributaries of the Wanchong section of the Changhuajiang. Fishes were rarely encountered above 600 m asl, and never above 900 m asl.

Human population
The main populations in and around Yinggeling are indigenous Li and Miao people. Neither have very complex agricultural systems, as they traditionally derived many of their needs from the forest. The Li and Miao have lived in Hainan for thousands of years; both have good knowledge of forest resources and the Miao in particular are recognised as committed hunters. Their swidden (shifting cultivation) practices were broadly compatible with forest conservation until economic development reduced forests to their current small sizes. Hunting is now conducted (illegally) by a small minority of residents, but is unsustainable for most species.

Threats to biodiversity
The main threats to the threatened flora and fauna are the loss of primary forests and over-exploitation. Much of Hainan’s lowland forest has been replaced by monoculture plantations, including eucalyptus and rubber, in recent decades, with dramatic implications for biodiversity. A comparative study in 2005-2006 found surrounding plantations to have far lower bird diversity than natural forest at Yinggeling. Hunting and over-exploitation is a major threat especially to species of high economic value, such as larger mammals, birds and turtles.

Conservation initiatives
The survival of Yinggeling’s forests to the present day owes much to their inaccessibility, while the traditional practices of the Li and Miao residents were broadly sustainable until the forests shrank to their present state. On establishment of the nature reserve some 270 local villagers were recruited to become forest wardens, providing incentives to each village to work for conservation. The effectiveness of this work force in controlling illegal activity has gradually increased over the years through a series of training workshops and exchanges. By 2012 there were far more signs of wild animal activity than in 2005, though illegal activities continued.

In 2005 KFBG began working with the community of Daoyin, in the interior of the new reserve. While many of their traditional activities had technically become illegal, the nature reserve had no desire to penalise the residents, and it was understood that the reserve should bring them benefits no less than costs. They began by discussing possible interventions that would serve community needs whilst reducing pressure on the forest. After both sides agreed, KFBG trained villagers to build a pilot deep-litter bed pig raising system and compost toilet, to improve sanitation conditions, soil fertilisation and pollution control. Both these systems, built with the aid of interns from the James Yen Rural Reconstruction Institute and Partnerships for Community Development (PCD), worked well, and fostered a mutual trust between the nature reserve, the village and KFBG.

Although all wildlife is officially protected inside nature reserves, in practice some harvesting, including fishing, continue and aquatic fauna are highly depleted across South China. From their early visits in 2006 KFBG staff raised the idea of establishing agreed no-catch zones in the stream at Nankai, in the north of the reserve, so as to restore fish populations and ecosystem integrity, and improve adjacent fish yields. In January 2008 villagers in Daoyin, Nankai, Hainan decided to establish a fish sanctuary adjacent to their village. A first celebratory event was held in May 2006 to show the large fish to villagers, inviting school-children and reporters. By 2010, the improvement in fish catch and fish size was so evident to residents that seven other villages in the nature reserve had followed suit. In two villages sanctuary establishment was combined with the release of an island-endemic fish (Garra hainanensis) which had been extirpated in most local rivers. The release, of over 300 juvenile Garra hainanensis in June 2009, raised conservation awareness by involving students and local residents.

KFBG’s next focus at Daoyin was to help the villagers find building materials that did not require cash generation or the depletion of natural resources. From techniques developed at Auroville in India, Yinggeling and KFBG helped build a community centre using stabilised earth, which requires just one-eighth the energy consumption of fired brick. Skilled forest wardens from other villages volunteered to work in the construction, and learned the techniques to help with self-reliant development.

In 2009 Yinggeling held a five-day Community and Education Facilitators' Orientation workshop to mark the opening of the new Yinggezui Sub-station. Twenty-two local wardens and 17 representatives from other nature reserves in Hainan and Guangxi took advantage of the interactive learning methods, which were subsequently shared with all 200 Yinggeling wardens. Yinggeling staff also began running environmental education outreach activities in local schools, with KFBG guidance. In 2010 Yinggeling and KFBG encouraged the five villages of Nankai’s Gaofeng area to form a Community Conservation Committee. This formulated village rules and regulations for sustainable harvesting of rattan and wild honey. The nature reserve saw the committee as a key forum for tighter links between community benefits and improved conservation.

Access and facilities
Most of Yinggeling remains inaccessible to visitors, who need permission to enter. The Yinggezui Management Substation below the ‘Parrot-bill’ summit is a quiet scenic spot with accommodation, but potential visitors should contact the nature reserve in advance.