To accelerate China's species and wetland resources conservation work, the Chinese government has implemented the National Wildlife Conservation and Nature Reserves Development Program (NWCNRDP), one of the six key forestry development programs, a senior forestry official said Thursday in Beijing.

According to the program, by 2010, China will bring some resources under protection by implementing rescue projects for 15 major plant and animal species, said Zhao Xuemin, deputy director of the State Forestry Administration.

These include the Giant Panda, Crested Ibis, Tiger, Golden-haired Monkey, Tibetan Antelope, Chinese Alligator, Asian Elephant,Gibbon, Musk Deer, Antelope cuvieri Przewalski, deer species, crane species, pheasant species and plants in the orchid family and Cycas species.

By 2010, China will increase the number of its nature reserves to 1,800, covering some 16.14 percent of its territory. And in this way China will establish a comparatively complete conservation network to bring the main habitat of 90 percent of priority wild fauna and flora species under state protection and 90 percent of typical ecosystems under sound protection, said Zhao.

To realize the above goals, China will make more efforts in promoting the transition from wild resources utilization to the development and utilization of artificial resources, said Zhao.

Zhao said China will issue favorable policies and make more investment to intensify the efforts in the development of NWCNRDP,and will establish nature reserves, sub-nature reserves, reserve stations and posts in some key areas to promote the establishment of a conservation network.

Zhao said China will intensify its efforts in the breeding and rescue of highly endangered species to prevent them from extinction and make more efforts in the conservation of germplasm and gene conservation of these species.

By comprehensive utilization of legal, administrative and economic methods, and improving the relevant laws and legislation, China will strengthen management of its species and wetland resources conservation work, said Zhao.

And by taking a favorable policy mechanism, China will develop its artificial breeding and use industry to promote the shift from wild utilization resources to artificial resources development andutilization, said Zhao.

Source: Xinhua