XINING, July 26 (Xinhua) -- China has achieved results in the ecological conservation program for the sources of the Yangtze River, Yellow River and Lancang River, a local conservation official told Xinhua in a phone interview Sunday.

Photo shows the natural landscape in the Sanjiangyuan area, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Source: china.org.cn) Photo Gallery>>>

    China's largest ecological conservation program mainly covers three Tibet autonomous prefectures, namely Yushu, Huangnan and Golog, in southern part of northwestern China's Qinghai province, according to Li Xiaonan, deputy head of the Qinghai office of three-river sources conservation program.

    The program, which began in 2005, is made up of 22 sub-projects including eco-conservation to infrastructure construction to improve production and the quality of life for local farmers and herdsmen, Li said.

    From 2005 to the end of May 2009, 2.26 billion yuan (330.9 million U.S. dollars) out of the 7.5 billion-yuan total estimated cost were pumped into the program, Li said.

    The investment has funded grazing bans, pasture conservation projects, inhabitant resettlements, erosion control and artificial weather control, Li added.

    Remote sensing analysis show that at the three river sources, pastures increased by 182.75 square kilometers, area of water systems and wetlands expanded by 43.21 sq km and area of desert land decreased by 200.84 sq km, according to Li.

    There are now more than 40,000 Tibetan gazelles,15,000 more than that of 10 years ago. The number of a sinus kiang and blue sheep has increased to 30,000 and 7000, respectively -- 2,000 and 4,800 more than 10 years earlier, according to a latest site scientific investigation.

    Appraised as the "water tower" for Asia, the areas are located in the hinterland of Qinghai-Tibet plateau and are home to origins of Yangtze River, Yellow River and Lancang River. Covering a total area of 363,000 sq km with an average altitude of 4,000 meters, the areas are habitats for many large rare and endangered animal species, including Tibetan antelope, yak and snow leopard.

Eco-protection effective in Sanjiangyuan area

    BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhuanet) -- The ecological degradation of the Sanjiangyuan area, in the middle of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has been curbed and the area's water source conservation function has been restored since China launched an eco protection project in 2005.

    The Sanjiangyuan area, covering 363,000 sq km and rising at an average altitude of 4,000 m, is China's largest eco-functional region.  Full story

Eco-degradation curbed at Sanjiangyuan 

    BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Sanjiangyuan, the place where the world famous Yangtse, Yellow and Lantsang originate, has seen an expansion of its lake-and-wetland and vegetation coverage since an ecological protection project was launched by China in 2005.

    For the first time in nearly 30 years, ecological degradation of the alpine swamp meadow in the place is effectively curbed, and ecological environment markedly improved.  Full story