China Steps up Wetland Protection
7/16/97
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Headline: China Steps up Wetland Protection
Source: United Press International
Date: 7/16/97
Copyright 1997 by United Press International
BEIJING, July 17 (UPI) -- The Global Environment Fund has donated $18
million to help protect China's wetlands from the onslaught of development
and population growth.
The Ministry of Forestry says the donation will be spent on wetland
conservation and protection research in southwest Sichuan (``Sich-wan'')
and northwest Gansu (``Gan-sue'') provinces.
Although China boasts 63 million hectares (157 million acres) of
wetlands housing some 300 species of birds, only 152 protection zones
have been set up across the nation.
The unprotected areas are at risk from rampant rural population
growth and breakneck development.
Vice Forestry Minister Wang Zhibao (``Wong Churh-pao'') says China
signed the Convention on Wetlands in 1992 and recently embarked on an
ambitious Wetland Protection Action Plan.
The plan will make use of the funds to help determine the causes of
wetland decline and remedy any problems.
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