The Shilin (Stone Forest) Geopark is state owned property and is therefore subject to relevant national, provincial and local laws, regulations pertaining resources and environment protection.

The Geopark is defined with clear boundary and size, zones for different functions and subject to different protection grade has also been clearly classified.

There is a well-established management body – Shilin Geopark Administrative Bureau, in charge of daily management. The management body is well stuffed and, as proved by practice, has ensured an effective protection and management of the Geopark.

Relavent laws and regulations on geopark management  

The table below shows relevant laws and regulations on geopark management.

The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China

Article 9: Natural resources like mineral resources, water resources, forests, grasslands, wild lands, intertidal zones and so on, except those legally owned by communities or individuals, are state owned properties, that is, belong to the whole people.  

The state ensures the rational use of natural resources and protects rare animals and plants. Any occupation or damaging natural resources by any organization or individual by whatever means is prohibited.

Article 22: Places of historic interest and scenic beauty, rare and important cultural and historical heritages are subject to state protection.

Article 26: The State protects and improves the environment in which people live and the ecological environment. It prevents and controls pollution and other public hazards. The State organizes and encourages afforestation and the protection of forests.

Environmental Protection Law of the PRC

Article 17: The people’s governments at various levels shall take measures to protect regions representing various types of natural ecological systems regions with a natural distribution of rare and endangered wild animals and plants, regions where major sources of water are conserved, geological structures of major scientific and cultural value, famous regions where karst caves and fossil deposits are distributed, traces of glaciers, volcanoes and hot springs, traces of human history, and ancient and precious trees. Damage to the above shall be strictly forbidden.

Article 19: Measures must be taken to protect the ecological environment while natural resources are being developed or utilized.

Article 23: In urban and rural construction, vegetation, water body and the natural landscape shall be protected and attention paid to the construction of gardens, green land and historic sites and scenic spots in the cities in the light of the special features of the local natural environment.

Wildlife Protection Law of the PRC

Article 6: The governments at various levels shall strengthen the administration of wildlife resources and formulate plans and take measures for the protection, development and rational utilization of wildlife resources.

Water Law of the PRC

Article 5: The state shall protect water resources and adopt effective measures to conserve natural flora, plant trees and grow grass, conserve water sources, prevent and control soil erosion and improve ecological environment.

Forest Law of the PRC

Article 24: the competent forestry department under the State Council and the people’s governments at provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions shall designate nature reserves and intensity their management in the forest areas of special protection value, such as typical forest areas in different natural regions, forests where rare animals and plants grow and natural tropical rainforests.

Interim Rules on the Management of Scenic Areas of the PRC

Article 23: The scope of scenic area shall, in consideration of the completeness of landscapes, the maintenance of the natural and historical appearance, the protection of the ecological environment, the development of the resort into a certain scale, and the requirements for convenient sight-seeing and managements, be specified in the plans, and become effective upon the approval of the master plan.

In the surrounding areas of scenic area, protective zones shall be defined and specified in the plans of scenic area in accordance with the needs to maintain the features of landscapes, and the natural environment and ecological balance of the scenic area, and to prevent pollution and impose control on construction activities. The original administrative management and subordinate relationship shall remain unchanged. For such protective zones, the management organizations of scenic area shall, after the approval of plans for the scenic area, propose the requirements for environment protection according to the plans, which shall be implemented by administrative organs.

Rules on Lunan Stone Forest Scenic Area Protection

Article 28: Established by law and under the leadership of the people’s government of Shilin county, the administrative body of the Stone Forest Scenic Area administers unified management on resources protection, development and construction, social security, economic services and sightseeing activities within the scenic area. All units within the area, in addition to under the leadership of their original upper level authorities, are subject to the management of the administrative body of the scenic area.  

Management Body of the Geopark

The Shilin (Stone Forest) Administrative Bureau is the management body specially established by law in charge of the protection and management of geoheritages and other important natural and cultural heritages of the Geopark and is responsible for the day to day management of the Geopark. At present the bureau is stuffed with 198 members, of which, 109 technicians with background of physical geography, geology, environmental protection engineering, administration, botany, zoology, planning, scenic area and garden management, GIS, financial accounting, sociology, tourist management, forestry, hydrological engineering, etc. and 89 other workers. In addition, several dozens of local villagers have been hired as part time guards for the Geopark.  

Protection zones and protection history of the Geopark

Following is the brief history regarding the protection and development of the Stone Forest Geopark.

In 1913, some local Yi communities concluded village rules on forest protection.

In 1931, Stone Forest Park formally established.

In 1960, Stone Forest Nature Reserve established with provincial government approval.

In 1982, Stone Forest National Park (key national scenic area) established with approval of the State Council.

From 1990 to1991, Rules on Lunan Stone Forest Scenic Area Protection was passed respectively by Yunnan provincial and Kunming municipal congresses. With the adoption of this resolution, management body of Stone Forest Geopark was perfected, a three-class-protected zone system was defined and boundary of each zone was demarcated. A detailed investigation of stone forest resources, stone forest karst heritages, and animal and plant resources was carried out, an initial database, based on the investigation, was established. Meanwhile, deforestation and hunting was banned.

In 2001, Stone Forest was designated as a National Geopark by Ministry of Land and Resources, China.

“Outline of Master Plan on Protection and Restoration of Stone Forest Geological Heritages and Ecological Environment” was compiled.

Provincial Planning Committee and Provincial Forestry Department jointly approved to implement the “Pearl River Protection Forest Project of Shilin Yi Nationality Autonomous County”, and “Convert Farmland to Forest and Grassland Project of Shilin Yi Nationality Autonomous County”.

In 2002, “Master Plan of Stone Forest Scenic Area” was revised, in which the scopes and nature of the special, class one, class two, and grade three protected zones of the Geopark were redefined.          

Specially Protected Zone:

Include the Naigu Stone Forest, the Wangchengshan-Qingshuitang Stone Forest, the Wenbishang-Suoyishan Stone Forest, covering a total area of 45.02km2.  

The Specially Protected zone is largely in pristine state and under absolute protection, without any buildings inside, entry is prohibited except for scientific study purpose, this zone, meanwhile, is also ecological protection area, special scenic area or important geological site.    

First Class Protected Zone:          

Include some important stone forest clusters and scenic spots such as the Major Stone Forest, the Minor Stone Forest, the Long Lake, covering 69.9km2.  

Within the first grade protected area, there are necessary track and limited tourist facilities, but automobile is prohibited.

Second Class Protected Zone:          

Immediate peripheral area of first grade protected area, covering 121.61km2.

Served as buffer zone of special and first grade protected zone, this area contains some tourist and accommodation facilities, but non-tourist related facilities and automobile are restricted.

Third Class Protected Zone:        

Outermost and boundary zone of the Geopark, covering 113.46km2.

This zone serves as the coordinating area of the whole Geopark, and delimits the boundary of the Geopark, within the zone constructions and facilities are under control and must be in harmony with the nature of the Geopark,.

Along with the social-economic development, more attention has been paid to environment protection, over the last decade, fund specially set aside for stone forest resource protection from the park annual tourism revenue has increased greatly.

Also, local people’s awareness of the important scientific and aesthetic values of the Stone Forest and the critical role of the Geopark for the sustainable development of local economy has promoted remarkably. This laid a very good social foundation for the effective protection of the stone forest resource.

In 2023, the area of Shilin Global Geopark was extended, and the Third Class Protected Zone was 129.16km2.