China has established an initial nationwide environmental observation network, according to a statement released by China's Environmental Observation Headquarters. Nearly 2,230 environmental observation stations are monitoring air quality, acid rain, river water quality, ecologies and offshore seawater quality across the country. These stations provide valuable scientific data to aid the prevention of pollution and will be used to gather information to develop environmental policies.

Wan Bentai, head of China's Environmental Observation Headquarters, said that more funds have been put into the construction of environmental observation posts, with contributions from 1998 to the present totaling 1.98 billion yuan (US$239.5 million), twice as much as was invested over the 25-year period prior to 1997.

Currently, 474 auto-atmospheric observation systems have been installed in 179 Chinese cities, as well as 80 auto-water observation stations on major river valleys. Air quality forecasts and reports from 47 key environmental protection cities are released daily on China Central Television. Water quality reports for the Huaihe River and Taihu Lake are made public every month. Water quality at bathing beach and drinking water sources in key cities are also monitored and controlled.

Over the next three years, 2 billion yuan (US$241.5 million) will be allocated to build and improve the national environmental observation network. The main measures involve: strengthening the ability to monitor pollutants, speeding up the construction of the air quality monitoring network, improving the auto-observation systems along major river valleys, enhancing offshore monitoring capabilities, developing ecological observation posts and transmitting information.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, December 7, 2002)