Case Studies On The Conservation Of Giant Panda In Pingwu County Sichuan Province

Pingwu County of Sichuan Province has the greatest number of Giant Pandas( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) over all other counties. Studies on the status of the Giant Panda and its habitat, the threats and conservation strategies were conducted in Pingwu. Results and conclusions are mainly as follows:1. The distribution area of the Giant Panda in Pingwu County is only about half of that in the early 20th century.2. Many new sites of panda activities have been found since 1999, and nearly all of them are in two large panda habitats. One is the North area along Motianling Mountian, including Tangjiahe and Baishuijiang reserves. The other is the West area, neighboring to Baiyang and Huanglong reserves. Results show that the distribution range is increasing since the logging ban in 1998.3. There are about 85% pandas distributing in the national forest area, and 15% pandas distributing in the community forest area.4. The density of pandas is much higher in the 3 reserves of Wanglang , Xiahegou and Xuebaoding than that outside reserves. But there are still about 60% pandas outside reserves. 5. The population of the Giant Pandas in"Laohegou" area has decreased much since 1986. Habitat restoration in Laohegou is the priority for the maintaining of the Giant Pandas in the area.6. New panda signs have been found on the entrance to Yangdong River Valley and Xiajia River Valley near Huangtuliang. Huangtuliang is the key area as an ecological corridor to link the North area and West area and for the interaction of the Giant Pandas between Motianling and Minshan. Habitat restoration and other management measures are recommended in Huangtuliang Corridor.The threats to the Giant Panda include logging by the timber industry, the7. development of the roads, the tourism and wildlife poaching. The earthquake and bamboo flowering are the main natural factors threat to the Giant Panda in Pingwu.8. The felling of the three largest factories of Pingwu timber industry is the largest factor the habitat fragmentation.9. The developing of roads and tourism is also the large threats to panda's habitat.10. Reserve networking and panda protection action networking are recommended for the effective conservation of the Giant Panda in Pingwu...