A: Since the 1970s,Tibet has designated areas that are the habitat of rare wildlife
as nature reserves, and expanded financial input for the protection of wild animals,
and plant resources. The designation of nature reserves began in the 1980s. From
1982 to 1985, the government of Tibet Autonomous Region successively approved
the establishment of seven nature reserves, including Medog, Zayu, Bomegang, Pagqi
Village of Nyingchi County, Zham Ravin in Nyalam County, Jiangcun Village in Gyirong
County, and Mount Qomolangma. The Medog and Mount Qomolangma nature reserves are
both listed as national nature reserves. In 1993, Tibet approved the establishment
of another six nature reserves, including Qangtang, Xainzakun, Yanjing of Markam
County, and Painbo of Lhunzhub County. Their main purpose is to protect endangered
wildlife and their ecological environment. The Qangtang Nature Reserve, covering
an area of 24,000 square kilometers, is the world's largest continental nature
reserve, and has recently been approved by the Chinese government as a national
nature reserve. These 13 nature reserves cover 32,500 square kilometers, accounting
for 26.5 percent of Tibet's total land mass, and are equivalent in area to that
of Poland or Finland.
In 2000, the government of Tibet Autonomous Region decided
to invest 130 million yuan in establishing three nature reserves for earth forest
in Zanda County, the pillow Lava in Xigaze County, and geothermal geysers in Ngamring
County. After the State Council approved the Mount Qonmolangma, Yarlung Zangbo
Grand Canyon, and Qangtang nature reserves, the regional government plans to propose
the Yunnan Golden Monkey Nature Reserve in Mankam County, and the Cibagou Nature
Reserve in Zayu County as national nature reserves. |
