The Chinese government will invest 1.92 billion yuan (about US$231
million) to protect the environment and forest resources in the
southwestern
Tibet Autonomous Region in the coming five years.
According to a plan of the State Forestry Administration, Tibet
will start 11 key ecological projects and 14 forestry projects
funded by other provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of
the country over the next five years.
Importance will be attached to the afforestation projects in Lhasa,
the regional capital, and nearby areas, as well as protection of
natural forests, construction of seed-breeding and sapling base,
protection of wild animals and plants, construction of nature
reserves, education on forestry science and construction of
forestry infrastructures.
China has already poured more than 119 million yuan (US$14.33
million) into the region's forestry industry in the past five
years.
So
far, Tibet has completed construction of 24 forestry projects
funded by the central government and other provinces, autonomous
regions and municipalities of the country. Two more are under
construction.
Doje Cering, a leading official of the regional forestry bureau,
said that in the next five years, Tibet will strictly protect
natural forests and stop cutting commodity forests in some areas to
protect local forest resources.
(Xinhua News
Agency 09/25/2001)