Human activities such as pollution and over-grazing, and natural disasters such as sandstorms, mudslides, landslides and floods, are inflicting damage amounting to 200 billion yuan (US$29.2 billion) each year to China's most fragile ecological regions. In some regions the cost of environmental degradation is higher than GDP growth, according to a report published by the MEP.

The report – An Outline National Plan to Protect Ecotones – concentrates on eight key regions that are important areas for the preservation of biodiversity but are particularly sensitive to environmental disruptions and climate change.