LHASA, Oct. 27  -- A census of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region shows that 88.2 million hectares of the area is grassland, but over 26 percent of it suffers from degradation.

The grassland in the region can produce 77.9 million tonnes of fresh grass each year and can carry over 32.13 million standard sheep per year, according to census results published by the regional agricultural and pastoral department earlier this week.

The census started in 2011 and makes use of a combination of technologies, including remote sensing, geographic information systems and global positioning systems.

The census shows that 23.5 million hectares of grassland, 26.71 percent of the total, is suffering from degradation.

Qamba Qoizha, an official with the agricultural and pastoral department, said the census results will be used as a reference for the region's grassland protection measures.