Contemporary Value of Ancient China’s Wisdom in Managing Alien Species

Abstract

As one of the top five direct drivers threatening global biodiversity, invasive alien species represent a pressing challenge that demands immediate resolution in China's ecological and environmental domains. The "15th Five-Year Plan" period marks a critical phase for advancing China's biosecurity, during which there is an urgent need to enhance the invasive species prevention and control system. By examining historical management philosophies from the Qin-Han and Ming-Qing dynasties, this analysis identifies current shortcomings in China's invasive species management, such as insufficient interdepartmental coordination, lack of independence in risk assessment, and regulatory lag in cross-border e-commerce oversight. Therefore, it is imperative to establish a centralized interdepartmental coordination mechanism, ensure the independence of risk evaluations, and strengthen cross-border supervision and penalties. Drawing on ancient wisdom in managing alien species can provide valuable insights for refining the contemporary invasive species prevention institutional framework, thereby helping to fortify ecological security barriers and foster harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.