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Background Information of Poyang Lake and Yangtze Finless Porpoises

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Contingent Valuation of Yangtze Finless Porpoises in Poyang Lake, China

Abstract

Before I start describing Yangtze finless porpoises (YFPs), I need to put this animal and the need to protect it into context. Therefore, this chapter seeks to introduce the area, Poyang Lake, and identify major use conflicts with respect to ecology and economy. In addition, I briefly describe the characteristics of the YFPs and explain the threats faced by them and corresponding protection strategy.

Poyang Lake enjoys the title of the last “special water ecological region” in the world, gaining the laureate of the “largest freshwater lake of China” for its maximum water surface of 5,100 km² in 1954. Poyang Lake is not only the lifeline of Jiangxi province in China but also the “patron saint” of the middle and lower reaches of The Yangtze River. In this chapter, I will introduce the geographical situation of Poyang Lake, and the uses and conflicts found there (Sects. 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3). Then I will explore Poyang Lake as the best currently available habitat of the YFPs and explain the circumstances faced by the YFPs (Sect. 2.4). The chapter ends with a brief summary (Sect. 2.5).

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  1. Economics, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research — UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, Leipzig, Germany

    Yanyan Dong

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Dong, Y. (2013). Background Information of Poyang Lake and Yangtze Finless Porpoises. In: Contingent Valuation of Yangtze Finless Porpoises in Poyang Lake, China. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2765-6_2

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