Tian, Miaomiao and Potter, Gary and Phelps, Jacob (2026) Wildlife governance in China : A doctrinal analysis of wildlife law. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.
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Abstract
The accelerating loss of biodiversity has intensified attention to the role of law in shaping wildlife governance. As one of the world’s most biodiverse countries and a major actor in global wildlife trade, China plays an essential role in international conservation debates. This thesis examines the framework and evolution of Chinese wildlife law through a doctrinal analysis of its key legislation. The study focuses on how conservation objectives are translated into formal legal rules. It analyses the legal definition of “wildlife”, the development of legislative priorities over time, and the design of criminal offences and sentencing thresholds. In doing so, it traces a shift in Chinese wildlife legislation from a framework historically associated with regulated utilisation towards one increasingly framed in terms of ecological protection and, more recently, public health. Particular attention is paid to reforms following the COVID-19 outbreak, including changes to species classification and criminal liability standards, which illustrate how legal categories and thresholds shape the scope of wildlife governance. In its concluding analysis, the thesis engages with debates in green criminology and conservation science by clarifying the reach and limits of crime-based regulatory responses. It highlights the distinction between the formal regulating scope of law and the broader ecological harms that may fall beyond criminal definitions. By examining the internal logic of wildlife legislation, the thesis argues that careful attention to legal detail is essential for meaningful interdisciplinary dialogue. On this basis, it provides a foundation for future research on how statutory frameworks interact with criminal justice processes and conservation practice.