China will assign 64.7 billion yuan (US$7.82 billion) for wetland protection in the delta area of the mud-clud Yellow River in the next decade, according to a source with government of Dongying City of east China's Shandong Province.

The government source said the investment will be used in protecting the existing wetland and developing more wetland in the region.

The 5,464-km-long Yellow River, China's second largest river, passes Dongying before it empties into sea, leaving massive sand and mud in the city. The soil at the river estuary contains densely saline-alkali, making it a wasteland for growing plants or crops.

Currently, Dongying has 153,000 hectares of wetland, including a national wetland protection zone. The city has established a wetland museum, covering 7,856 square meters in area.

According to local government, development of ecology-friendly agriculture and industries, and environmental protection will be the top concerns for the government in the next decade.

Wetlands play a vital role in water conservation and purification as well as prevention of flooding and in protecting bio-diversity.

According to figures released by the United Nations Environment Program, one hectare of wetland can create an annual production value of US$14,000, much greater than tropical forests or cultivated fields.

China values the protection of its wetlands and increasing awareness of preservation and is working to stop blind land reclamation and serious pollution.

China launched a program to protect 90 percent of its wetlands in 713 special zones in 2003 and the efforts would last for two decades. China currently has about 38 million hectares of wetlands, including 36 million hectares of natural wetlands, accounting for 10 percent of the world's wetland resources.

(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2005)