A fire that lasted for almost two months in a nature reserve in northeast China has brought massive losses to local residents and endangered the red-crowned cranes inhabiting the area.

Local sources said that the fire began on August 27 and quickly spread to grasslands in the reserve.

The fire was put out two days ago, with no deaths or injuries. But the fire had engulfed more than 13,000 hectares of reeds in the Zhalong Nature Reserve and seriously destroyed the habitat of the cranes.

The reserve, dubbed the "homeland of red-crowned cranes," covers about 210,000 hectares and is located 30 km from the city of Qiqihar in Heilongjiang Province.

The reserve is also China's biggest wetland and has been recognized by major international wetland protection organizations.

The reserve's management office was unavailable for comment. The National Plain Fire Control Office under the Ministry of Agriculture confirmed the disaster.

"We monitored the fire by satellite and informed the local authorities, but so far we haven't received any further report from them," said an official surnamed Xue.

Villagers residing in the reserve said they are the biggest losers in the two-month long fire.

"Though the fire didn't swallow up our houses and cattle, our reeds were gone," said Gao Jian, who earned his family's living by growing and selling reeds.

The fire has caused losses estimated at 8 million yuan (US$963,000) and efforts are now going on to earmark money and other items to help farmers through the coming winter.

The reeds, which are a raw material used for paper-making, are also vital for wetland protection.

Because the roots of reeds, useful in conserving water, were harmed by the fire, the wetland will not be restored for three or five years, experts said.

"The surrounding area was destroyed and we do not know when the cranes once living in the reserve can fly back," an environmental expert in the reserve said.

(China Daily October 23, 2001)