Twenty-four demonstration projects showcasing ecological protection have been built by seven nations bordering the South China Sea since 2002, said Dr John Pernetta with UN Environment Program (UNEP).

 

Pernetta, runs a UNEP program known as "Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand". He was in Beihai, a coastal city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, attending a meeting on sea grass in the South China Sea. Specialists from China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines attended the meeting.

 

He spoke highly of Chinese Government's commitment and its efforts toward environmental protection in South China Sea.

 

Under the UNEP program, demonstration projects aim to protect coastline mangrove forests, coral reefs, sea grass, wetlands, fishery resources. It also tries to seek ways to control pollution and enhance bio-diversity and promote sustainable use of coastal resources.

 

China has established protection projects in Beihai and Fangchenggang cities in Guangxi, and Shenzhen and Shantou cities in Guangdong Province. They focus on the conservation of sea grass, mangrove forests, wetland protection and pollution control, according to Huang Zhengguang, the Chinese specialist on the South China Sea scheme.

 

China is trying to find environmentally-friendly ways of exploiting the coastal resources while meeting the needs of local fishermen, said Huang.

 

At the Mangrove Forest Demonstration Zone in Fangchenggang City and the Sea grass Demonstration Zone in Hepu, Beihai City, fishermen have stopped trawling and are using cages or bait hooks to catch fish. Digging for seashells with a hoe or spade has also been banned.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2006)