长江江豚自然保护区建设管理存在的问题及调整建议

长江江豚(Neophocaena asiaeorientalis)是生活在中国长江的珍稀濒危鲸类动物,自然栖息地破坏是造成其种群衰退的重要原因。目前中国已经在长江中下游流域建立了8个长江江豚自然保护区。然而,早期保护区的功能区划随经济发展和生态保护的现实矛盾日渐突出,按照现行法规对保护区难以实行有效管理,迫切需要进行优化调整。文章基于国家政策、长江江豚生物学特点及分布规律,兼顾航运等重大经济发展需求,提出了长江豚类自然保护区调整的原则和建议:(1)将长江江豚喜好的近岸水域及一定范围的重要江滩和洲滩湿地,及江心洲汊江一侧水域划入核心保护区;(2)将中间主航道水域以及长江大堤至核心区边界之间的水域划入一般控制区;(3)兼顾历史遗留问题,细化不同区域的管控措施。该调整方案一方面使保护区功能区划更加符合长江江豚的分布特征和偏好生境,有利于对其自然种群和重要栖息地的有效保护。另一方面也有助于理顺自然保护区管理上存在的法律障碍,为长江江豚自然保护区建设、规划和管理提供新的思路和模式。

PREDICAMENTS AND ADJUSTMENT SUGGESTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF YANGTZE FINLESS PORPOISE NATURE RESERVES

Habitat destruction is an essential reason for the decline of the Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis), a critically endangered cetacean species living in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. As the most fundamental measure for animal conservation, 8 nature reserves have been established since 1990s. However, due to the rush planning and establishment for protecting the key habitats, most of the reserves lack scientific evaluation for functional zoning. With the growing contradictions between economic development and ecological conservation, it is not easy to efficiently manage nature reserves under current regulations. Optimization and adjustment are urgently needed. Based on national policies, habitat preference of the Yangtze finless porpoise, and major economic development needs such as shipping, this study proposed principles and the following adjustment suggestions for the Yangtze finless porpoise nature reserves: (1) Divide the near-bank waters, river beaches, wetlands, and bifurcated tributaries, which the Yangtze finless porpoise preferred, into the core protected area. (2) Divide the main channel waters and the region between the Yangtze River dike and the core protected area boundary into the general control area. (3) Consider the history issues, refine the management statement in different areas. The above adjustment suggestions make the functional zoning more consistent with the distribution characteristics and habitat preference of the Yangtze finless porpoise, and more efficiently protect their natural population and habitat. Also, it could straighten the legal contradictions existing on the management level of nature reserves, which will make the management more targeted and operable, and provide a practical, feasible model for the healthy development of Yangtze finless porpoise nature reserves.