Beijing: A Biodiverse City

Oriental Outlook Issue 21, 2021

As the capital of China, Beijing functions as the center for national politics, culture, international exchange, and sci-tech innovation. For this mega city with a population of more than 20 million, it is a big challenge to keep the balance between economic development and ecological protection.

According to Beijing’s biodiversity survey in 2020, 5,086 types of species were found in the city, with 70 newly recorded, signifying an abundance of flora and fauna in its ecological circle. Beijing has prioritized ecological protection in areas that include forestation, construction of winter Olympic Games zone, and animal aid.

As the world enters the rapid urbanization phase, cities are playing an increasingly important role in protecting biodiversity. On June 5, 2021, Beijing officially launched a regulation on ecological protection and green development, which is the first provincial level legislation on specific functional areas. Protected by law, Beijing’s environment will become more vibrant and luxuriant.