Beijing launches joint initiative to bring back endangered species

Oaks for Leopards project aims to improve forestry in North China so animals can thrive

A collaborative conservation project titled "Oaks for Leopards" was recently launched in Beijing, with the capital joining forces with Hebei and Shanxi provinces to restore and protect the wilderness of North China.

The project is jointly initiated by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the Chinese Society of Forestry, the Beijing Forestry and Parks Bureau, and the forestry and grassland authorities of Hebei and Shanxi. It aims to provide food and habitat for the endangered North China leopard, enriching biodiversity in and around Beijing.

During the launch ceremony held in Beijing's Fangshan district on April 19, Wang Xiaoping, director-general of the Beijing Forestry Society, said that the return of the North China leopard to Beijing would be a milestone in the city's ecological development, indicating a more stable, sustainable, healthy and diverse ecosystem.

Zhao Zhonghua, China country director of World Animal Protection, emphasized that as a city dedicated to biodiversity conservation and international cooperation, Beijing's initiation of such an effort holds extraordinary importance. A successful outcome will offer valuable insights for biodiversity conservation globally.

Ecological significance

The North China leopard, also known as the Chinese leopard, is under first-class national protection in China. Historically, its habitat spanned the mountainous forests of North China. However, human activities such as agriculture and mining have drastically reduced its habitat, leading to a sharp population decline.

Currently, the leopards are sparsely distributed in areas such as Yuxian county in Hebei and Heshun county in Shanxi. The last sighting in Beijing, once the home of the precious creatures, occurred about three decades ago.

As a top predator in the forest ecosystem of North China, the North China leopard plays a crucial role in regulating prey populations and maintaining ecological balance. Its population is a key indicator of a forest ecosystem's overall health. Efforts to restore the leopard population are vital not only for saving this endangered species but also for ensuring the integrity of the forest ecosystem in North China.

"The prey of the North China leopard includes large herbivores like roe deer and wild boars," Sun Quanhui, a scientist with World Animal Protection, told The Beijing News. "The presence of leopards helps complete the ecological chain and address the overpopulation of certain species such as wild boars," he added.

According to Wang from the Beijing Forestry Society, who is also an official at the Beijing Forestry and Parks Bureau, approximately 60 North China leopards are living in Heshun county, Shanxi, and around 10 in Hebei's Tuoliang nature reserve, which is only 60 kilometers from Beijing's Mentougou district.

He pointed out that the lack of food and fragmented habitats might be reasons why leopards have not returned to Beijing.

In recent years, ecological restoration projects in Mentougou and Fangshan districts have increased forest coverage and the number of hoofed animals, creating suitable conditions for the North China leopard's return to Beijing.

According to the 2025 List of Terrestrial Wildlife Species in Beijing, the city is now home to 620 terrestrial wildlife species spanning 108 families, with eight more species recorded compared with 2024. This indicates improvements in the health of the ecosystems in and around Beijing.

Habitat restoration

The collaborative efforts of Beijing, Hebei and Shanxi will focus on restoring the leopard population and its habitat. Each region has unique strengths and complementary advantages in leopard conservation.

Beijing will provide policy guidance and technical support backed by its scientific research resources. Hebei will leverage its solid foundation in habitat protection and monitoring, while Shanxi, as a major habitat for the North China leopard, will contribute its extensive experience in species survey and protection.

The Oaks for Leopards project plans to plant 10 million oak trees in leopard migration corridors and habitats at the intersection of Beijing, Hebei and Shanxi, creating an ecosystem with a blend of coniferous and broad-leaved trees, and reconnecting habitats fragmented by roads.

Oak trees produce acorns, an essential food source for the leopard's primary prey, such as roe deer and wild boars. The complex and stable structure of oak forests also aids in the restoration of migration corridors, providing a more suitable living environment for leopards and other wildlife.

Beijing, Hebei and Shanxi will connect and restore four migration corridors and five habitats for the North China leopard, reducing human interference and promoting population exchange.

Additionally, the regions will monitor the populations of prey species and implement targeted measures to ensure a stable food supply. Efforts will also be made to strengthen field patrols and law enforcement, using satellite tracking and infrared cameras for monitoring.

The project also emphasizes public participation, creating a collaboration mechanism among government, businesses, nongovernmental organizations and members of the public. Local residents will be encouraged to join conservation efforts and develop eco-friendly industries. Nature education activities will also be organized to raise public awareness. The goal is to advance both ecological protection and community development.

The project will be implemented in three phases: short-term efforts (2025-30) will establish the four-party collaboration mechanism, plant the oak trees, restore the habitats, and launch community engagement and nature education activities; the midterm phase (2030-33) will expand suitable habitats, promote leopard population growth, and enhance the development of eco-industries; the long-term phase (2033-35) will fully restore suitable habitats and migration corridors, achieving a balanced protection and development model and setting an international example for ecological conservation.

Through collaboration among multiple stakeholders, the project aims to stabilize the leopard population, increase farmers' incomes, promote the transition toward a green economy, and achieve both ecological benefits and improved livelihoods.

Wider implications

The location of the Oaks for Leopards project falls within that of the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, initiated in 1978 to combat desertification in Northwest, North and Northeast China. The project's success will not only enhance the ecological conditions in and around Beijing but also offer replicable practices for environmental efforts in the Three North regions.

Beijing is formulating plans for the sixth phase of the Three North program, focusing on comprehensive ecological improvements in the Taihang Mountains and on the southern slopes of the Yanshan Mountains. The city is also devising regulations and technical specifications for the program to enhance ecological health.

Zeng Xiaoli, head of the ecological restoration department at the Beijing Forestry and Parks Bureau, told The Beijing News that the sixth phase would shift from quantity-driven afforestation to enhancing forest quality, ecosystem functions and carbon sequestration. The goal is to achieve the holistic restoration and protection of natural systems such as mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands and grasslands.

Zeng said: "Building on the unique ecological attributes of megacities, we transcend the conventional functions of ecosystems by exploring their recreational, educational and health benefits to enhance people's sense of gain, thereby establishing a foundation for Beijing's development into a garden city."

The Yanshan Mountains play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological health of Beijing's northern mountainous region, providing essential functions like water conservation, soil preservation and biodiversity protection. The region covers five mountainous districts, including Changping, Huairou and Pinggu, along with two State-owned forest farms.

By the end of this year, the sixth phase will have planted or restored more than 36,000 hectares of forest, improving the quality of the forest ecosystems in mountainous areas and enhancing the ecological resilience of Beijing.

huyuyan@chinadaily.com.cn