China’s revised Nature Reserve Regulations took effect on March 15, 2026 following the historic adoption of China’s first comprehensive Ecological and Environmental Code by the 14th National People’s Congress.
Professor Xu Jiliang, of the School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, explained how the new two-zone system, along with differentiated and seasonal management measures, reflects a shift from rigid “one-size-fits-all” governance to a more scientific and people-oriented approach, balancing strict ecological protection with residents’ livelihoods and sustainable development.
Professor Xu Jiliang points out that the “optimizing and improving of the zoning control measures for nature reserves is a key focus of this revision to the Regulations”.
The original Nature Reserve Regulations did not clearly specify how to properly balance conservation with economic development or residents’ livelihoods, nor did they account for regional differences, resulting in a rigid “one-size-fits-all” management approach.
This has led to a situation where the rules are neither strictly enforced nor flexibly implemented.
In order to balance high-quality development with high-level conservation, and to align with the zoning control measures for national parks, the revised Nature Reserve Regulations haveadopted an approach consistent with the National Park Law regarding zoning control measures.
The previous three-zone system of core zones, buffer zones and experimental zones in nature reserves has been restructured into a two-zone system comprising core conservation areas and general control zones.
This adjustment not only enhances standardized management of nature reserves but also simplifies the zoning framework to improve public understanding of conservation regulations.
The full text of Professor Xu Jiliang’s comments are available at: https://shorturl.at/nFczC
Sources:
Beijing Forestry University, March 30, 2026. https://english.bjfu.edu.cn/News/News2/f2481cb6f90b4159a45416f190843f76.htm
CGTN, March 15, 2026. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-03-15/How-China-s-new-nature-reserve-regulations-reshape-human-nature-ties-1LwEfIpRgDC/p.html
