Protecting the biodiversity in the fast urbanization age - an ecotourism zone in Hainan, China

In China's rush to urbanize, development practices are often forceful on local people. Displacing development of the Chinese countryside to make way for expensive housing and large hotels is a regularity. This paper looks at the Yanoda Ecotourism Zone Planning project in Hainan, China as an example of the method of the Ecotourism and Sustainable Development approach. The design team thoroughly collected and analyzed the natural and culture elements of the area, and hosted public meetings of all parties including local governmental, developer, local farmers, potential buyers and came up an innovated master plan for the 164 km2 (40,525 acres) project areas that all parties receive some benefit; at the same time, the natural resource and cultural character of the area was preserved in a maximize way. The Ecoland design team also came up with a demonstration design for Phase I area as well as a design guideline for the rest of the project area. Three years after the project, the local residents' income, the government tax income from tourism, and developer's investment return have all proved the success of the development. The goal of preserving the sensitive environmental area was accomplished as well. By incorporating scientific research, urban infrastructure, and job training, the plan shows that the goals of ecological, cultural, and economic sustainability can be combined to create a successful development for all parties involved. The result is a popular tourist destination that has the support of both the people and the government. Yanoda Ecotourism Zone shows how a model developed with the community can lead to successful future growth. The master plan for Yanoda is not merely a guideline for development but a model for a system of continued sustainability and growth. (c) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.