3.2 bn spent to preserve Tibet ecology

LHASA - The local government of Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region said 3.2 billion yuan ($507 million) was spent last year to turn the area into an "ecological security barrier".

The spending financed 10 major projects including the conservation of Tibet's pastureland and wetland, measures to prevent forest fires and pests, wildlife protection and environment monitoring, said Zhang Yongze, chief of the regional environmental protection department.

Tibet, covering more than 1.2 million square kilometers, plays a vital role in maintaining the eco balance on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. With abundant glacier resources, rivers, wild animals and plants, the plateau region is widely recognized as a potential regulator against climate change for Asia and the entire Northern Hemisphere.