Governance of Biodiversity Conservation in China and Taiwan

Environmental Governance in Asia series

Gerald A. McBeath, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks, US and Tse-Kang Leng, Professor of Political Science, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan

China and Taiwan have roughly one-eighth of the world’s known species. Their approaches to biodiversity issues thus have global as well as national repercussions. Gerald McBeath and Tse-Kang Leng explore the ongoing conflicts between economic development, typically pursued by businesses and governments, and communities seeking to preserve and protect local human and ecosystem values.

‘Written in a readable and concise manner, Governance of Biodiversity Conservation in China and Taiwan makes an interesting contribution to the study of Chinese environmental politics.’
– Kathleen Burton, The China Quarterly

‘McBeath and Leng’s work on contemporary Chinese environmental governance and conservation provides an excellent overview of the key issues in the People’s Republic as well as a timely comparison with environmental issues in Taiwan. . . McBeath and Leng’s book is written in an concise and readable manner appropriate for undergraduate courses, while the breadth and depth of information makes it equally useful for graduate research. This book on China’s environment makes a worthy contribution to contemporary conservation studies and policy issues, and should be essential reading for specialists and students working on biodiversity governance issues in China.’
– Jack Patrick Hayes, Pacific Affairs

“这足总scinating volume highlights the ongoing conflict between economic development and environmental protection in both mainland China and Taiwan. The authors value biological diversity and examine its loss and conservation from historical and comparative perspectives. Despite significant differences in institutional frameworks and environmental NGOs on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, the authors also note a similar approach to biodiversity conservation and the entailed success or failure. This volume is a must read for people who are concerned with the endangered global ecosystem. Students in public policy comparison may find this volume instructive in combining institutional analysis with behavioral observation.’
– Lin Gang, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, People’s Republic of China