The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Global Environment Facility (GEF) “Securing Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use in China's Dongting Lake Protected Areas” project (Dongting project) was successfully completed in Hunan Province of China. Representatives from FAO, government, research institutes, local communities and others participated in the project summary meeting on March 10-11 to brief the important achievements and experiences of the project.

Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China and is listed as one of the 200 priority ecoregions for global conservation by the World Wildlife Fund. In 2016, in order to better protect the biodiversity of Dongting Lake, Dongting project was officially launched. The project is managed by FAO, funded by GEF, and implemented by Hunan Provincial Forestry Bureau, Hunan Provincial Department of Finance and other institutions.

After more than six years of implementation, the expected goals of the project are achieved and a satisfactory rating is obtained in the final evaluation of the project, contributing firsthand experiences of China to the governance of great rivers and lakes, biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization.

Main achievements of the project

Firstly, the Dongting project delivers on its commitment to global environmental benefits:

• The populations of indicative species and endangered species increased or kept stable, such as winter migratory birds, Pere David’s Deer and Yangtze finless porpoises.
• 25,760 hectares of the invasive species poplars removed from the Dongting Lake protected areas by 2021. Around 44, 600 hectares of wetland has been restored, and major biodiversity threats have been eliminated, such as sand mining and illegal fishing.
• The management efficiency of the Dongting Lake Nature Reserves effectively improved.
• Biodiversity-friendly community co-management models, such as bird-friendly rice-fish co-cultivation models, eco-tourism, and eco-friendly fish farming, piloted in the project areas, which effectively improved the livelihoods of local residents. 

Secondly, the project greatly improves the conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity of Dongting Lake:

• Effectively promoted the integrated management of Dongting Lake ecosystem protection across departments and regions, compiled the Five-Year Plan for the Integrated Dongting Lake Ecosystem Management (2020-2024), and established the Dongting Lake Wetland Integrated Management Information System.
• Promoted biodiversity mainstreaming by improving laws, regulations and policies.
• Leveraged more funds for the protection of Dongting Lake ecosystem. The amount of GEF-granted funds for the project is USD 2.95 million, while the actual matching funds provided by the Chinese government exceed USD 57 million, which is approximately 20 times the grant funds.
• Provided 1,500 person-times of training for government officials and protected area staff, which has greatly improved their management capacity.
• Piloted the biodiversity-friendly community co-management model to provide alternative livelihoods for local residents.
• Significantly enhanced the ecological protection awareness of local residents.

Moreover, a detailed project sustainability plan has been formulated by FAO and Hunan Provincial Forestry Bureau, so that the important outcomes of the project can continue to contribute to the biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization of Dongting Lake ecosystem.

FAO is one of the largest specialized technical organizations of the United Nations system, aiming to build more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life. Biodiversity conservation and restoration is a key element in building sustainable agri-food systems. With the support of GEF, FAO manages 9 projects crossing 17 provincial-level regions in China, promoting biodiversity mainstreaming, addressing climate change and land degradation, and promoting sustainable management of natural resources and sustainable agriculture.