China launches project to safeguard headwaters of three major rivers
( 2003-11-26 10:52) (Xinhua)
China has launched a major project in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to safeguard
the headwaters of the country's three major rivers, the Yellow River, the
Yangtze River and the Lancang River.
Within five years, 150 million Mu (10 million hectares) of pasture will be
restored in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Golog and Tibetan Autonomous
Prefecture of Yushu in Qinghai Province.
At an average altitude of 4,000 kilometers, the two prefectures are the
source of China's three major rivers. About 25 percent of the water resources of
the Yangtze River, 49 percent of the Yellow River and 15 percent of the Lancang
River originate from the source.
However, the areas have observed an
ecosystem degeneration in recent years due to global warming, increasing
population and excessive herding.
The three-river headwater area covers over 300,000 square kilometers, about
half of Qinghai Province's total area, and has a most vulnerable ecosystem, said
Wang Xiangguo, a senior expert on pasture with the Qinghai provincial office in
charge of the project.
The government will provide preferential policies and pay subsidies to the
herders who are willing to move out of the three-river headwater area, Wang
said.
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