Project Scope and Relationship to China's Agenda 21

This project seeks to protect various endangered animal species that since ancient times have been used in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly through the research and development of alternative sources. This project is based on Chapter 15 - Conservation of Biodiversity, and is related to Chapter 9 - Heath and Sanitation of China's Agenda 21.

1. Background

Certain animal species have yielded potent and effective ingredients for use in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Examples include the use of rhinoceros horn for reducing fever and cleaning the body of toxic materials, and the use of tiger bone for relieving pain and strengthening bones. Yet many of the animals used in traditional Chinese medicine are now threatened and endangered in China and around the world because of large scale deforestation, ecosystem destruction and hunting.

The rhinoceros, for example, which was once found in China, has now dwindled to a worldwide level of ten thousand, only one-tenth of the total number existing in the 1950s. Only seven thousand tigers are still in existence, and a number of species unique to China, such as the musk deer, are fast disappearing. Others have already become extinct, such as the rare species of Saiga antelope once found in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

China has enacted a number of laws and regulations to protect these endangered species, including acceding to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, promulgating a law to protect terrestrial wild animals, and completely prohibiting all traffic in tiger bone and some rhinoceros horn. Yet these measures will not prove effective, and illegal hunting and trade will continue throughout the world, unless alternative sources for these valuable medicines can be developed.

China has already begun work to develop alternative medicines and to breed and domesticate endangered species. For example, with respect to musk deer, work is under way to breed a domestic population, to develop methods to collect musk from live deer, and to artificially synthesize musk. Centres have also been set up to breed and domesticate the Northeast tiger and the Saiga antelope, and to explore alternatives to rhinoceros horn and other medicines.

China is now seeking technical and financial assistance in order to continue its scientific research on alternatives, expand its domestication and breeding activities, establish protective zones and conservation banks to protect endangered wild populations, and set up an information system to monitor by species its population, habitats, and illegal trade. These actions will enable China to develop a secure supply for traditional Chinese medicines that does not rely upon or jeopardize endangered animal species.

2. Objectives

• Long-term Objectives
  • To protect and expand the population of endangered and threatened animals, develop effective alternative sources for traditional Chinese medicine, and maintain biological diversity while meeting China's health needs.

• Immediate Objectives
  • To strengthen measures to protect and expand the population and habitat of endangered animals used for medicinal purposes.
  • To expand activities to domesticate and breed endangered animals used for medicinal purposes.
  • To continue and strengthen research to develop alternatives to traditional Chinese medicines originating from endangered animal species.

3. Activities

The following activities will be implemented by the State Science and technology Commission , the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Ministry of Forestry, and other related ministries. The project duration will be five years.

• 3.1 Strengthen measures to protect and expand the population and habitat of endangered animals used for medicinal purposes.

  • Conduct a survey to determine the existing resources and habitat of such endangered species as musk deer, tiger, pangolin, civet and gecko.
  • On the basis of this survey, establish protective zones of 100-200 hectares each for one or two endangered species.
  • Gradually establish a conservation bank for endangered animal species of medicinal value.
  • Establish an information system that will regularly monitor endangered species population, habitat, market demand, and illegal trade.

• 3.2 Expand activities to breed and domesticate endangered animals used for medicinal purposes.

  • Expand the Gansu breeding centre for endangered animals and establish a population of Saiga antelope.
  • Strengthen the Sichuan research centre for endangered animals. On the basis of domesticating musk deer and collecting musk from living deer, perform further research on reproduction and breeding in order to expand the population.
  • Explore bioengineering techniques for improving endangered species, inhibiting degeneration and strengthening biological adaptability.

• 3.3 Continue and strengthen research to develop alternatives to traditional Chinese medicines originating from endangered animal species.

  • Establish a centre for research and development on alternatives that will investigate substances from other non-threatened animal species as well as materials of non-animal origin.
  • Continue research on the pharmacological actions and effective components of rhinoceros horn, tiger bone, musk and antelope horn in order to provide the basis for research on alternatives.
  • Continue research on alternatives to rhinoceros horn and tiger bone, investigating other bones and horns such as buffalo horns.
  • Research the possibilities of developing synthesized materials, artificial constituents and alternatives using bioengineering technologies.

• 3.4 Strengthen and improve the collection and exchange of information.

  • Establish a data base for the collection of information on endangered animal species used for medicinal purposes and their habitats. Make data available to administrative and scientific institutions, and engage in international exchanges of information.

• 3.5 Improve training, education and public awareness.

  • Conduct various forms of domestic and international training programs, in order to establish scientific research and administrative teams for the protection of endangered animals and the development of alternatives.
  • Develop and publish materials to enhance public awareness and education on this issue.

4. Inputs

• 4.1 Chinese Inputs

  Domestic inputs will include project administration, domestic experts and staff, facilities for scientific research and administration, transportation and necessary facilities obtainable in China, scientific references, and special knowledge gained in the past and present.

• 4.2 International Cooperation

  International cooperation will include scientific information, necessary instruments and facilities not available in China, essential biological materials not available in China, reagents and specimens, samples, species, and experienced international experts.

5. Benefits

• 5.1 Social and economic benefits

  This project will contribute to the maintenance of global biodiversity and the protection of endangered species by promoting domestic breeding and reducing the pressures for illegal hunting and traffic in those species, both in China and in other countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.

  These actions will enable China to develop a secure and effective alternative supply for traditional Chinese medicines that does not rely upon nor jeopardize endangered animal species. Beneficiaries will include people in China and elsewhere who depend upon traditional Chinese remedies.

• 5.2 Evaluation norms and indicators

  Establish a monitoring system for endangered animals with medicinal value, including a conservation bank, an information data base and a specimen centre. Protection of the bioengineering laboratory. Establish 1-2 protection zones for endangered animal species. Develop of a breeding centre for antelope and one for musk deer. Develop alternatives for tiger bone, musk and antelope horn that meet applicable medical standards. Complete research on alternatives for rhinoceros horn. Develop artificial constituents for rhinoceros horn, tiger bone and antelope horn. Explore the use of bioengineering to develop alternatives to musk.