By the
end of year 2000,there were 1,276 nature reserves
of various types covering a total area of 123
million hectares, occupying 12.44% of the total
territory of China. Among the nature reserves,
there are 909 nature reserves under the management
of forestry agencies, which cover a total area
of 103million hectares. Currently in China, there
are 155 national nature reserves, and 1,050 forest
parks have been established, covering 9.8253 million
hectares. There are also 50,319 protected sites,
covering1.3558 million hectares. All these nature
reserves provide protection to a majority of endangered
and rare wild fauna & flora species and their
habitats, and also provide protection to 20 million
hectares of virgin natural forest, second growth
virgin natural forest, and 12 million hectares
of typical wetlands of various types. They respectively
occupy 14.6% and 50% of total areas of forest
and natural wetland of China.
Through the establishment of nature reserves,
a major part of China's land eco-systerm types,
wildlife species have been under effective protection
especially with habitats for more than 300 wild
animal species under state key protection, with
over 130 precious plants being covered. In addition,
nature reserves play an important role in preserving
water, regulating runoff, improving climate, and
maintaining the ecological balance.
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