Nature Reserves Key to Biodiversity Conservation In China

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, May 22, 2002

Nature Reserves Key to Biodiversity Conservation In China

Most of the rare and endangered species in China are well protected as a result of the expansion of nature reserves, according to the country's environmental protection department.

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Most of the rare and endangered species in China are well protected as a result of the expansion of nature reserves, according to the country's environmental protection department.

China, the world's most populous country, has established 1,551 nature reserves which cover almost 13 percent of the country's land, said a report released by the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) Wednesday.

The reserves for the conservation of forests, grassland, wetlands and other biological environments have played a key role in maintaining the biodiversity of China, says the report issued for International Biodiversity Day.

The reserves provide a protected environment for 70 percent of land ecosystems, 80 percent of wild animals and 60 percent of plants in China, many of which are rare and endangered species under the protection of the state, the report says.

Some of the reserves are even significant to the global ecosystem since they have become members of the World Man and Biosphere Program and the World Heritage Program, or been listed among the world's important wetland resources.

But a SEPA official also acknowledged that more effort should be made to improve the management of nature reserves, otherwise, "human factors" could pose a threat to the biodiversity of China.

About one third of the reserves were launched without well-established management departments or enough staff, or in short offunds, which could affect the quality of conservation, said Wang Dehui, who is in charge of nature environmental conservation at the SEPA.

He warned that some human activities carried out for economic profits have endangered the nature reserves. These include unthinking development of the tourism industry in conservation zones.

Wang said his department will focus on improving the administration of nature reserves in coming years.

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