Home / Environment / China Charts New Course: First Tropical Marine National Park
China Charts New Course: First Tropical Marine National Park
7 Feb
Summary
- Hainan is establishing China's first tropical marine national park.
- The park signifies a shift to integrated land-sea conservation efforts.
- Hainan's ocean economy shows robust growth, driven by new industries.
China is expanding its national park system to include marine environments, with Hainan province leading the way by establishing a tropical marine national park. This groundbreaking initiative represents a significant shift towards an integrated land-sea conservation approach.
The national park law, implemented on January 1, 2026, now permits the designation of marine areas, creating a clear pathway for Hainan to enhance its rich coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.
This development coincides with vigorous growth in Hainan's ocean economy, which expanded by 7.9% last year. The deep-sea oil and gas industry, in particular, has seen substantial gains, with projects like Deep Sea No 1 achieving significant output.
Furthermore, offshore wind power has experienced rapid expansion, contributing substantially to the marine power industry's value. Traditional sectors like marine fisheries are also evolving towards more sustainable and technologically advanced practices.
