Protections enacted for ecological marvels

By Li Yu and peng chao in Chengdu | China Daily | Updated: 2016-07-23 07:47

As an important ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan province has been striving to improve its ecological environment.

The province set an example for the rest of the country by launching a Natural Forest Protection Project in 1998. Then in 1999, it started the Grain for Green Project, initiated by the central government, which aims to control soil erosion and restore the environment by returning farmland to forests.

In 2000, the Sichuan provincial government released proposals to build an ecological barrier in the upper reaches of Yangtze river for the sake of the Yangtze River Basin.

So far, the province has afforested more than 6.67 million hectares of land. Its total forest stock ranks third and forest area fourth nationwide, according to Luo Jianguo, chief engineer of the Sichuan Forestry Department.

The sediment that enters the Yangtze River every year has been reduced by 300 million metric tons, nearly 80 percent of the flow during peak season in the past, he said.

By the end of 2015, forests covered 36 percent of the province, 14 percentage points higher than the national average and 0.3 percentage point higher than in the previous year.

"Though a small number, the 0.3 percentage point (increase in forests) means the forest area of Sichuan increased by 300,000 hectares in 2015," Luo said.

"Nature is the true treasure," he added.

The annual value of ecological services provided by the province's forests and wetlands, such as water conservation and air purification, is put at 1.65 trillion yuan ($251 billion).

The province has also protected more than 10,000 higher plants and 1,200 land vertebrates. Many of its endangered species, including the giant panda, have seen their numbers rise.

According to the fourth National Panda Census issued last year, 1,864 wild pandas live in China, of which 1,387 are in Sichuan.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), Sichuan will continue to cultivate its forest ecosystem, restore the wetland ecosystem and control the desert ecosystem and, as a result, essentially complete the construction of the ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Luo said.

By 2020, the forest coverage of Sichuan province is expected to reach 37 percent.

Another major task for Sichuan is to enhance the protection of critically endangered wild animals, such as giant pandas and golden monkeys.

The province aims to provide effective protection for 95 percent of the national or provincial key protected wild animals and plants in nature reserves. It also plans to build three national parks for giant pandas in Chengdu, Ya'an and Mianyang.

Contact the writers at liyu@chinadaily.com.cn and pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn