China issues preliminary wetland regulations

China released the draft of wetland protection regulations and started to solicit public opinion on Monday, according to the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council.

The regulations, drafted by the State Forestry Administration, aims to strengthen the management of the country’s wetlands and to implement relative international wetland conventions, according to the administration.

The draft, which contains 33 articles, elaborates the responsibilities of forestry departments of different levels in protecting wetlands, the measures to improve the public’s awareness, and the preparation and management of national wetland parks.

It also states that activities such as overgrazing, introducing alien species and taking wild fauna and flora are forbidden in China’s wetlands.