China has established a state-level nature reserve for black-necked cranes in the southwestern Yunnan Province, a move demonstrating its commitment to save the rare bird species from extinction.

Covering a total area of 19,200 hectares and located in Zhaotong City, the Dashanbao Nature Reserve accommodates more than1,000 black-necked cranes. Most areas of the reserve are 3,000 meters above sea level.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the major breeding base of black-necked cranes, which spend the winter period on the nearby Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

Experts with the Yunnan Provincial Forestry Bureau said the black-necked crane was the only one of the world's 15 crane species to raise its offspring and winter over on the plateau.

The Dashanbao Nature Reserve is also the source region of many rivers in China, including the Jinsha River, one of the major tributaries of the Yangtze, China's longest river.

China has also established another nature reserve for black-necked cranes in Weining in neighboring Guizhou Province.

The State Forestry Administration plans to put the Dashanbao Nature Reserve on the list of world's major wetland areas in 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2003)