Special zones to be built for wetland protection

China plans to put 90 percent of its wetland resources under protection in 713 special zones in the following two decades, a government official told an international seminar held here.

The existence of wetland in China is threatened by excessive human activities such as blind land reclamation, irrational use of resources and serious pollution, said Zhuo Rongsheng, director of the wildlife protection office with the State Forestry Administration.

Zhuo said the government has initiated a long-term wetland protection project for 2004-2030 that will cover 90 percent of the total wetland in the nation, while 140 million hectares of wetland will be recovered.

Zhuo promised the government will further improve its policy and management for the protection work.

According to the latest nationwide survey, China has 380,000 square kilometers of major wetland, including 360,000 square kilometers of natural wetland, which accounts for 10 percent of the world's wetland resources and puts China in the first place in Asia and the 4th in the world.

Under protection is 40 percent of the country's natural wetland that scatters in 353 wetland protection zones.

Wetland is considered as "kidney of the earth" for its vital role in water conservation, prevention of flooding and soil purification. It also helps protect biological diversity.

Source: Xinhua