Environment Improved in Central TibetThe environment in the central part of the Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China has been greatly improved thanks to large-scale afforestation and desert control effort over the past ten years.The temperature in Lhasa, capital of Tibet, Xigaze and 18 counties in Shannan prefecture in the valleys of Yarlung Zangbo River, Lhasa and Nyang Qu rivers rose an average of one to 1.4 degrees Centigrade, with annual rainfall increasing by between 20. 1 mm and 47.6 mm compared with previous years. The increased rainfall was favorable to the growth of crops and helped improve the eco-system. The development of agriculture in Lhasa, Xigaze and the 18 counties, the major grain-producing area of Tibet, was listed as a key state project during the country's five-year plan period for 1991-1995. Over the past decade, the area's forest area increased by 26, 700 hectares. Forest coverage rate increased by 0.78 percentage points due to large-scale afforestation effort. |
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