Province key ecological buffer

"We continued to strengthen protection and development of the major ecological sectors, and accelerated implementation of key ecological projects to protect natural forests, transform farmlands to forests and grazing pastures to grasslands, while continuing to protect wetlands," Wang said.

The overall water level of Qinghai Lake has risen for 14 consecutive years with nearby wetlands, forests and grasslands increasing in area.

Protected areas continue to grow larger with the province's national nature reserves accounting for 14.8 percent of the country's total, ranking second in China. Qinghai's wetlands account for 15.2 percent of China's total wetlands area, ranking first nationwide.