Changing legislative thinking in China to better protect wild animals and human health |
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Authors: | Guirong Fang Hong Liu Ka Wu Tongqing Wei Qing Wang |
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Affiliation: | 1. College of Law and Political Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China;2. College of Law and Political Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China Joint first authors. |
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Abstract: | The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the inadequacy of China's legal protection of wildlife. Long-standing illegal wildlife trade in China and worldwide increases the risk of zoonotic infectious diseases. We sought to improve the understanding of China’ legal system for the protection of wildlife, which has at its core the wildlife protection law, by systematically evaluating the laws and regulations of China's Wildlife Protection Framework. We examined how existing legal documents (e.g., the Wildlife Protection Law 2018) are directly or indirectly related to wildlife conservation. The inherent defects of wildlife protection legislation include a narrow scope of protection, insufficient public participation, and inconsistent enforcement among responsible agencies. Solutions to improve China's Wildlife Protection Law include expanding the legal protection of wildlife, and improving monitoring of wildlife protection. Strengthening legislation will be the basis for effective regulation of the use of wild animals. We advocate the establishment of a sound wildlife protection legal system for resolving conflicts between humans and wild animals and preventing zoonotic disease, such a system will have a profound impact on the sustainable development of China's wildlife resources. |
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Keywords: | biodiversity China COVID-19 illegal trade public health Wildlife Protection Law biodiversidad China COVID-19 Ley de Protección de Fauna mercado ilegal salud pública COVID-19 非法贸易 野生动物保护法 公共健康 生物多样性 中国。 |
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