Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Ecological Protection Law of the People's Republic of China

This Law is enacted to strengthen the ecological protection of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, prevent and control ecological risks, ensure ecological security, promote sustainable economic and social development and achieve harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. The Law consists of 7 Chapters: General Provisions; Ecological security layout; Ecological protection and restoration; Ecological risk prevention and control; Safeguards and supervision; Legal liability; Supplementary Provisions. 

The Law emphasises biodiversity conservation by describing the establishment of a new monitoring network, requiring projects to be implemented to protect and restore important ecosystems and calling for the creation of conservation areas centred around proposed national parks. 

The Law prohibits production and construction activities that may cause soil erosion in areas that already suffer severe soil erosion or have fragile ecology. It bans sand mining and mining activities that do not meet conservation requirements in nature reserves for river sources and imposes strict rules against the construction of new small hydropower stations on the plateau. The law also contains provisions for travellers. 

The Law further makes provisions, inter alia, for: the protection and restoration of ecosystem elements such as snow capped mountains, glaciers, permafrost, rivers, lakes, grasslands, forests, wetlands, the protection of rare, endangered wild animal and plant species on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, climate change monitoring, early warning and evaluation, natural disaster investigation, evaluation and monitoring, ecological impact monitoring of major engineering projects, protection and management of germplasm resources and prevention and control of invasive alien species. 

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