Resource information
This Law is formulated in order to protect the ecosystems of islands and their surrounding waters, rationally develop and exploit the natural resources of islands, protect the oceanic rights and interests of the state, and promote sustainable economic and social development.The State Council and the coastal local people’s governments shall include the protection and rational development and utilization of islands in the national economic and social development plan, and take effective measures to strengthen the protection and administration of islands and prevent the ecosystems of islands and their surrounding waters from being damaged (art. 3). Uninhabited islands belong to the state, and the State Council shall exercise the ownership of uninhabited islands on behalf of the state (art. 4). Chapter 2 regulates island protection planning. The national island protection plan shall establish the principles for the categorized protection of islands, the utilizable uninhabited islands, the key islands needing restoration, etc. according to the location, natural resources, environment and other natural attributes of an island and the status of protection and utilization of an island. Chapter 3 provides for island protection. For the development and construction of inhabited islands, investigation and assessment shall be made on the land resources, water resources and energy status of the islands, and environmental impact assessment shall be made. Prohibited and restricted areas for development shall be delimited on the inhabited islands and in their surrounding waters, and measures shall be taken to protect the habitats of living things on islands and prevent the degradation of island vegetation and reduction of biodiversity. The specific measures for the examination and approval of the development and utilization of uninhabited islands shall be formulated by the State Council. The state shall apply special protection to the islands where the territorial sea base points are located, islands for the purpose of national defense, islands within the marine natural reserves and other islands for special purposes or with special conservation value. Further provisions concern supervisory inspection and legal liabilities.
Implemented by: Measures for the Administration of Names of Islands. (2010-06-28)
