Northwest China's Qinghai Province has started selling 20,000 land protection certificates in Hong Kong to raise money for environmental protection projects in the province's river-sources area.

According to officials with the Qinghai Environmental Protection Bureau, the 20,000 land protection certificates vary from 10 to 30 square inches each in size.

They said a Hong Kong environmental protection agency, "Friends of the Earth," is responsible for selling the certificates, and all money collected will be used to build ecological projects in the river-sources area.

The officials said the first land protection certificate was bought by Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China.

The Yangtze and Yellow rivers, China's first and second longest, both originate from Qinghai province. Due to climate changes, excessive logging, and a lack of funds for grasslands development,the ecological environment at both river sources has deteriorated in recent years.

The central and local governments have been making great efforts to improve the environment and protect the river-sources area. officials said.