Ecological Conditions in Major Rivers' Headwaters DeterioratingThe ecological conditions in the headwaters of three major rivers, the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang, are deteriorating, a senior official of the Qinghai provincial government warned Saturday.The world's highest river sources boast the largest natural swamp and most concentrated biodiversity, but are plagued by worsening ecological conditions, increasing natural calamities and weakening ecosystems, due to natural factors and man's activities, said Mu Dongsheng. This has adversely affected economic development and the people's livelihood in the middle and lower reaches of the three rivers, according to the official. Statistics show that the situation of more than 10 million hectares of grassland in the region has been deteriorating or has been desertified, accounting for half of Qinghai's grassland that can be utilized, while some 5.5 million hectares of grassland are damaged by rats. Rapid desertification has resulted in serious soil erosion, with increasing amount of silt washed down to the lower streams of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers, China's two longest. To prevent the headwaters of the three rivers from deterioration, China set up its largest nature reserve today in an area of 318,000 square kilometers so as to protect the environment and promote sustainable economic development in the region. The zone has more than 70 kinds of wildlife including Tibetan antelope and wild donkey. |
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