China's one-child policy does not apply to the country's ethnic minorities, and most women in Wolong have more than two children. Wolong officials maintain their work has improved conditions for the panda and that more of the animals were sighted during patrols this year. But a recent study by a team of Chinese and U.S. researchers that made use of aerial photos concluded that suitable panda habitat in Wolong has declined by 8 percent, or more than 18 square miles, since the reserve was established in 1975. During that time, the annual amount of firewood and timber used by Wolong's residents more than doubled. If wood use and population growth continue at current rates, another 81 square miles, or 37 percent, of Wolong's panda habitat would be lost in 50 years, the study predicted.
All indicators show the panda habitat has continued to decline.
Replacing firewood with electricity or other energy sources and moving people out of Wolong could reverse the process, Liu said, but under the best circumstances it would still take decades for the forests to recover. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the government tried moving entire families out of the reserve. It didn't work. People who had spent their entire lives in these mountains were unequipped to survive elsewhere, officials said. They're used to the traditional lifestyle in the mountains.