China has established an initial nationwide environmental
observation network, according to a statement released by China's
Environmental Observation Headquarters. Nearly 2,230 environmental
observation stations are monitoring air quality, acid rain, river
water quality, ecologies and offshore seawater quality across the
country. These stations provide valuable scientific data to aid the
prevention of pollution and will be used to gather information to
develop environmental policies.
Wan Bentai, head of China's Environmental Observation Headquarters,
said that more funds have been put into the construction of
environmental observation posts, with contributions from 1998 to
the present totaling 1.98 billion yuan (US$239.5 million), twice as
much as was invested over the 25-year period prior to 1997.
Currently, 474 auto-atmospheric observation systems have been
installed in 179 Chinese cities, as well as 80 auto-water
observation stations on major river valleys. Air quality forecasts
and reports from 47 key environmental protection cities are
released daily on China Central Television. Water quality reports
for the Huaihe River and Taihu Lake are made public every month.
Water quality at bathing beach and drinking water sources in key
cities are also monitored and controlled.
Over the next three years, 2 billion yuan (US$241.5 million) will
be allocated to build and improve the national environmental
observation network. The main measures involve: strengthening the
ability to monitor pollutants, speeding up the construction of the
air quality monitoring network, improving the auto-observation
systems along major river valleys, enhancing offshore monitoring
capabilities, developing ecological observation posts and
transmitting information.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, December 7, 2002)