The area of nature reserves in China has reached 1.5 million square kilometers, accounting for 15 percent of the country's landmass.

 

The State Environmental Protection Administration said on Wednesday that China has already established 2,349 nature reserves of different types, including forest, grassland, wetland, ocean and desert.

 

The administration explained these nature reserves are conducive to the protection of the ecological system and the maintenance of biological diversity.

 

It added China will continue to improve the management of its nature reserves to prevent their destruction by overexploitation.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2006)