This announcement sent shockwaves around the globe, largely lauding it as an important step in the right direction4. China’s decision is also unprecedented at several levels, which could result in profound and far-reaching impacts for both humans and wildlife.
First, this decision was initiated and adopted by China’s highest legislature — the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress — with the explicit endorsement of President Xi1,2. In contrast, China’s response to the SARS outbreak in 2003 — a short-lived ban on the trade and consumption of palm civets5 — was initiated by various government agencies at lower legislative levels. In responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the political will in China has never been stronger or more overt across multiple levels of government6. Within a few months, all 31 provinces in China have published provincial legislation on wildlife farming and consumption. Perhaps more importantly, from May to July, the People’s Congress standing committees at the national and provincial levels conducted nation-wide evaluations on the effectiveness of these policies and their enforcement. The committees concluded that policies were generally well implemented, but there was room for improvement on certain aspects, including finding alternative livelihoods for affected wildlife traders, continuing to revise the protected species lists, and addressing loopholes in wildlife trade monitoring and habitat conservation. In terms of positive outcomes, joint actions and special operations from the government have closed 12,000 wildlife-related businesses, intensified monitoring efforts to include over four million e-commerce platforms, and removed 990,000 online sources of information associated with wildlife trade6.
Second, China’s current decision includes a series of new legislations to build on the achievements of current actions by enhancing the regulation of wildlife farms and markets (Box 1). The revision of the country’s Wildlife Protection Law is expected to bring about long-term and systematic changes to wildlife conservation. Additionally, China is also revising its List of Protected Animals. Species threatened by consumption, such as the pangolin and yellow-breasted bunting, are being promoted to the highest protection level (Class I Wildlife species)7. Furthermore, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs published an updated Catalogue of Animal Genetic Resource in May 2020. Among wild animals, only species in this catalogue can be farmed or consumed8. There are 64 species of wild animals that are being farmed for consumption, but are not yet included in this catalogue for various reasons (for example, to reduce the risk of sourcing animals from the wild). Nevertheless, the Ministry of Forestry and Grassland has categorized them into two groups: the farming of 45 species (for example, bamboo rat and civet cat) is due to be banned by the end of 2020, and the remaining 19 species (for example, several species of snakes) are allowed to be farmed for non-consumption uses9. Furthermore, the disbursement of government financial compensation to the farmers affected by these new legislations, amounting to over a billion US dollars, is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
Third, the current ban is likely to galvanize rapid and widespread knock-on actions and impacts. For example, Guangdong has already banned wild vertebrate animals as pets10. The consumption of dogs and cats is banned in the city of Shenzhen11. Pangolin scales are removed as a key ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, although it is still included as an ingredient in patent medicines in the 2020 Chinese Pharmacopoeia12,13. The pre-COVID wildlife management system in China, especially in its wildlife farming industry, has long been criticized by conservationists to be disordered and outdated. The lack of incentives and capacities had been a major barrier to change for government agencies in the country. The COVID-19 pandemic, at great human and economic costs, has mainstreamed the discourse of wildlife conservation for human well-being, clarified legislations on what species can be farmed, and provided a policy framework for systematic and enforceable wildlife management and conservation. These actions are exactly what scientists have long called for to minimize the risk of zoonotic disease transmission and outbreaks in the future14.
Source: Ecology - nature.com
