The ecological environment along the upper reaches of the Yangtze
River, China's longest, has greatly improved following a campaign
to protect its natural forest.
Since 1999, lumbering has been banned in the three Tibetan counties
of Markam, Jomda and Gonjo, located on the upper reaches of the
Yangtze, leading 129 tree-fellers to become tree planters.
The regional government of Tibet has closed down 18 timber
processing plants and three timber trading markets. It also called
off the timber production quota set for the three counties.
According to the regional plan, the Qamdo Prefecture is responsible
for the protection of 1.2 million hectares of natural forest on the
upper reaches of the Yangtze. The prefecture has designated 2,715
farmers to protect against forest fires and pests and has also
invested 9.72 million yuan (US$1.17 million) to build four sapling
nurseries to breed spruce, thorn bushes, evergreens, poplars and
other fine strains suited to high altitude.
To
facilitate afforestation, Qamdo residents over the past two years
have planted trees on 999 hectares and closed 4,666 hectares of
mountain areas to livestock grazing.
When the campaign ends in 2010, the amount of land covered by
forest in the three counties is expected to rise from the present
36.5 percent to 44.7 percent, a regional forest official said.
(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2002)