Enhancing and promoting national environmental goals through local integrated coastal management initiatives and legislation: Evidence from Xiamen

Abstract

In 1994, Xiamen municipality, one of China's four special economic zones, was authorized to make its own necessary local legislations. Since then, Xiamen local legislators have formulated a number of local regulations and rules regarding coastal and marine resource management, most of which preceded national legislation on the same topic, including several local legislations and were able to facilitate financial leverage such as the development of a User Pay and Permit System and the Marine Ecological Protection Compensation Scheme. Equally significant is the legislation on the Use and Protection of Local Uninhabited Islands promulgated in 2003. These regulations together with others promoting the protection and conservation of Chinese White Dolphin in relation to the enforcement of marine functional zoning, proved crucial for good governance of the Xiamen National Nature Reserve for Rare Marine Species. Experiences from Xiamen local practices, including support from local government, planning in advance, and involvement of the public, influenced policy and law-making at the national level and helped Xiamen to become not only an environmentally sound city but also nationally acclaimed example of good environmental governance.