The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) presented its 127th Gift to
the Earth title yesterday to 24 nature reserves in northeast
China's Heilongjiang
Province.
The reserves cover 1.86 million hectares of land and are home to
many endangered species, including Siberian tigers and rare
yew.
"The WWF granted the title to Heilongjiang for its efforts in
protecting large amount of species that are on the brink of
extinction," said WWF Sweden General Secretary Lars
Kristoferson.
Heilongjiang, home to some 2,000 species of wildlife animals and
plants, has set up 166 natural reserves, covering an area of 5.18
million hectares.
The local government plans to expand the natural reserves to 6.4
million hectares to include over 90 percent of rare species in the
province under effective protection, said Han Liansheng, director
of the provincial forestry department.
It is expected that being recognized as a Gift to the Earth will
facilitate the establishment of a cross-border green corridor along
the Heilong River (also known as the Amur River) drainage area to
better protect wildlife in Russia and Mongolia, said Zhu Chunquan,
forest program director of WWF China.
A Gift to the Earth, initiated by the WWF in 1996, aims to
highlight leadership and global achievements in environmental
protection involving the participation of governments, companies
and individuals.
Besides Wednesday's award, China has won three Gift to the Earth
titles for 14 pieces of wetland, a panda protection network and an
environmental protection educational program among primary and
middle school students.
(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2005)