A forest park in Zhongshan. [File photo/Zhongshan Daily]

The Zhongshan Bureau of Natural Resources recently released the "Zhongshan Forest Park Management Measures (Exposure Draft)" and the "Zhongshan Wetland Park Management Measures (Exposure Draft)". These drafts propose basic conditions for the development of the municipal forest and wetland parks. These in a bid to further protect the use of forest and wetland resources and boost eco-tourism.

Specifically, the development of municipal forest parks should meet basic requirements such as more than 100 hectares forest area, over 70% forest coverage rate, clear forest and land ownership and clear boundaries. The development of municipal wetland parks requires more than 8 hectares wetland and over 30% wetland rate, clear land ownership within the park and no overlapping and intersected land with other natural reserves.

In addition, both exposure drafts propose that the municipal government shall grant subsidies in the form of awards in order to encourage the development of forest and wetland parks in towns and districts.