Red Panda: China's Large Attraction for Tourism

In China, the Red Panda is a large attraction for tourism. Tourism attracts over 5 billion tourists a year, and a lot of those tourists will visit the zoos during their travels and see the Red Pandas. Saving them will keep people visiting the zoos, bettering the economy! The dark side of their effect on China’s economy is unfortunately that their fur is also sold as either jackets, hats, or carpets. Although they are not the largest tourist attraction in China, Red Panda do serve a part in the tourism industry and is needed to keep industries such as zoos intact and profitable.

How Humans are Single-Handedly Destroying the Red Panda Population

Habitat loss is unfortunately the greatest threat to red pandas, though they are also poached for their thick soft fur. Human population growth in central China and in the Himilaya Mountains has led to more farms, ranches, and houses that demand a lot of wood. The increasing demand for wood is decimating the lush forests biomes of China and Nepal, and this in turn is taking a huge toll on the red panda population as they do not have adequate living space and food sources. This needs to stop, as only 3.34% of China’s forests remain intact, and this is taking a huge toll on its inhabitants. A change needs to be made fast in order for the forests to be able to support the Red Pandas, as they won’t be able to function with such limited space.

The logging industry provides an estimated $60 billion economic impact in China alone, so lowering their rein would take a toll on their economy in general. Other industries in China would need to grow to make up for the loss, which would be completely possible. Also, as the forest diminishes the lumber industry is exponentially shrinking as well, so this number may begin to decrease regardless. China is one of the world’s largest importers, consumers, and exporters of wood-based products because of companies such as China Longjiang Forest Industry General Corporation, China Inner Mongolia Forestry Industry Group Co, and Greater Khingan Mountains Forestry Group Co. Along with this, over 15% of imports and exports of wood-based products were estimated to be illegal in China. To stop deforestation and save the Red Panda would require the implementation of new legislation that would force logging companies to decrease their reign.

The main cost to save the red panda will be stopping the deforestation and logging companies in China and the Himilayan mountains. The cost of this is difficult to pinpoint, as saving these forests would mean having to implement new legislation, which could hold various different economic implications. As local forest resources are beginning to become scarce, China’s logging industry is beginning to rely considerably on imports. Industry revenue for sole imports is expected to grow at an annualized 8.0% over the five years through 2024, to $26.7 billion. This trend is expected to grow by 4.3% in 2020. If China can move to more import heavy logging profit it could greatly benefit the forest ecosystems while also becoming more profitable for China. This symbiotic relationship would offer a partial resolution to the deforestation problems in China, and we could see the red panda population slowly rise back to what it once was.

What People are Doing to Help

The Red Panda is included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix I. It also is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972, which is the highest protection possible for any species in India. It is also protected in Bhutan, China, and is classed as a Category II species under the Wild Animal Protection Law by the Wildlife Act of 1994. In China, the species is Red Listed nationally as Vulnerable under Act A2. There are also two main forest preservation programs! The Natural Forest Protection Program, which aims to protect and regenerate forests; and the Grain-for-Green Program, which transforms cropland back into a forest where animals such as the Red Panda can live once again. All of the agencies are doing their best to help protect the red panda from becoming even more endangered than it already is.

Specific Protected areas

In Myanmar, the red panda can be found in Hkakaborazi National Park, Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary, and Emaw Bum's proposed National Park. It is difficult to determine how much of the Red Panda’s range in the country these protected areas cover. Hunting and Logging can be problems within these protected areas, especially in Emaw Bum. In Bhutan the red panda can be found in the following protected areas: Jigme Dorji, Thrumshingla and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Parks, Bumdeling and Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Torsa Strict Nature Reserve. It has also been recorded in the Royal Botanical Park, Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary, and Wangchuck Centennial Park. China has fewer protected areas for the red panda, as there is less available space and they need the space for their huge logging industry.

A great first step is visiting conservation websites such as the Pegasus Foundation https://www.pegasusfoundation.org/saving-red-panda/ or learning how you can make an impact. There are donations you can make and petitions you can sign to stop poaching and logging in these affected areas. Also, if you do your research and feel inclined to do so, you can write a draft of law and propose it to the National People’s Congress in China. There are many ways to contribute, and you just have to decide which method would work best for you!