(XinhuaNet, Oct 28, 2006) China will restrict commercial development in and around nature reserves, making protection the top priority and trying to expand reserve area, said Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan here Friday.

    In his speech at a meeting on the development of nature reserves, Zeng made it clear that the relations between protection and development must be properly handled.

    He said the government will play a leading role in preserving and developing nature reserves in the country and also called for public participation.

    China set up its first reserve, Dinghushan Mountain nature reserve, in southern Guangdong province 50 years ago. But an over-emphasis on tourism and a lack of funds have led to public demands for more protection in recent years.

    Zeng promised the government will invest more in protecting nature reserves, cracking down on damaging practices, and working out and implementing a national roadmap for their development.

    There are 2,349 nature reserves in China, covering 1.5 million square kilometers and accounting for 15 percent of total land area.

    The percentage will creep up to 16 percent in 2010 and 17 percent in 2020, by which time 95 percent of species and ecological systems under state protection will be properly protected and managed.
source:XinhuaNet