Some 100 government officials and scientists from 11 countries issued a joint declaration at an international symposium on the protection of peat bog, or wetland, calling on the international community to take emergent measures to protect peat bog resources.
Peat bog is widely distributed and of high economic value. More than 10 percent fresh water in the world stems from peat bog, which plays a vital role in adjusting global climate, said participants of the symposium which was closed Friday in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province.
However, the great value and functions of peat bog have been neglected. Peat bog around the globe shrinks and degenerates at a fast pace. The fire in peat bog in southeast Asia over the last ten years has caused billions of US dollars of economic losses and exerted a negative impact on the global environment.
The declaration comprised more than 20 proposals on protection of peat bog resources at three levels, namely in individual countries, regions and the international community.
Many proposals touched upon the assessment on peat bog resources in various countries, the control over exploration of peat bog resources, fund raising and the formulation on laws in this regard, and regional and international cooperation in peat bog protection.
The declaration spoke highly the achievements made by China and southeast Asia in peat bog protection.
(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2004)
