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)