Conservation projects launched

Yunnan province, which has the most species and ecosystem varieties in China, is adopting new biodiversity protection measures.

The new approach relies on nongovernmental organizations to run 10 conservation projects for rare species, particularly those with dangerously small populations, former director of the Yunan provincial forestry department Chen Jihai said.

The Yunnan green environment development foundation, of which Chen is acting chairman, will provide a 50,000-yuan ($7,000) grant for each program from its Biodiversity Conservation Small Grants Project. The projects will help preserve dolphin deer, the Chinese manglietiastrum (Manglietiastrum sinicum) - a rare flowering plant endemic to Yunnan - and the biodiversity in Meili Snow Mountain, Chen said yesterday.