URUMQI, Sept. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- The Development and Reform Commission of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is to give 29.78 million yuan (3.59 million US dollars) to the Altun Mountains Nature Reserve to step up protection of wildlife and plants.

　　The money will be used to modernize facilities inside the reserve to prevent poaching of animals or rare plants, said an official from the regional environmental protection bureau.

　　The official said they would build two new protection centers and three other care stations, upgrade basic infrastructure and improve living environment and conditions for patrol workers working at the zone over the next three years.

　　On the plateau juncture of Xinjiang, Qinghai and Tibet, covering 4.5 million hectares, the Altun Mountains Nature Reserve is home to 335 mammal types, 175 plants and 32 bird species. Enditem