Core Conflict
A significant conflict exists between panda conservation and local community development. Conservation measures restrict economic growth, while wild animals (e.g., wild boars, civets) persistently damage villagers' crops and poultry, causing financial losses. Although wildlife damage insurance exists, the compensation amount is far below the actual value of the losses.
Conservation Status and Challenges
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Successes: The giant panda population has significantly recovered, leading to its status being downgraded from Endangered to Vulnerable.
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New Challenges: Habitat fragmentation has isolated pandas into 33 groups, 18 of which have fewer than 10 individuals, still facing a high extinction risk. The focus of conservation has shifted from banning hunting to habitat restoration and building ecological corridors.
Solution: Ecotourism and Benefit-Sharing
The most viable path forward is genuine ecotourism, centered on creating a mechanism that directly links local people's income to conservation outcomes:
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Concept: Make residents realize that a healthy ecosystem is itself a valuable asset that can generate sustainable income.
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Goal: Achieve voluntary, participatory protection by the entire population, ultimately leading to harmonious development between humans and nature.