The number of rare birds migrating to Poyang Lake National Reserve Zone, a nature reserve surrounding China's largest freshwater lake, has risen remarkably over the past 20 years.

According to Ji Weitao, deputy director of the zone administration, the number of birds sighted in the 22,400-hectare area in east China's Jiangxi Province, has increased from less than 2,000 at its founding in 1983 to about 350,000 today.

Currently, 95 percent of the world's white cranes inhabit the reserve in winter and a total of 30,000 wild geese fly in from every corner of the world each year, making the reserve the world's biggest wild goose habitat.

The nature reserve is also home to another 10 rare bird species under the country's top protection and 48 species under second-level protection.

Ji noted that all levels of government along with local residents and some international environmental organizations had contributed greatly to bird protection in the reserve.

Neighboring villagers have stopped their fowling and governments have helped them find other sources of income.

The reserve zone administration has set up bird protection stations and employed many professionals to run a 24-hour watch for poachers.

The Global Environmental Foundation has also allocated special funds for the administration of the reserve area.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2002)