World heritage listing is not a green light for exploitation

GULANGYU, A PEDESTRIAN-ONLY ISLAND off the coast of East China's Fujian province, and the Kekexili National Nature Reserve in Northwest China's Qinghai province, were recognized as part of the world's heritage at the ongoing 41st session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Poland. Beijing News commented on Sunday:

The two sites have good reason to be recognized by UNESCO given the enormous efforts the local governments and residents have made to protect their environments.

Encompassing a vast uninhabited area on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Kekexili National Nature Reserve is home to more than 200 wildlife species including the endangered Tibetan antelope. However, until eight years ago, even its average elevation of 4,600 meters above sea level did not stop poachers from entering the reserve and killing the antelopes. Now, thanks to concerted anti-poaching efforts, Tibetan antelopes are no longer listed as an endangered species.