Tibet's wetlands on the increase  

西藏湿地面积增加52万公顷

Mapham Yutso Wetland, most typical of Tibetan lake wetlands, provides habitats for a large number of water birds such as the black-nencked cranes and bar-headed geese. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

China's Tibet Autonomous Region has seen an increase of wetland by 524,200 hectares in the past decade thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, said a survey released on Wednesday.

The figure represents an increase of 8.7 percent on a decade before, 530,000 hectares of natural and 4,500 hectares of artificial wetlands, and takes the region's total to 6.52 million hectares, said the regional forestry department.

By the latest statistics, wetlands account for 5.31 percent of Tibet's land area, the second highest among Chinese regions.

To date, there are 19 wetland reserves in Tibet, including two on the Ramsar list of international importance.

The region has one office of wetland conservation and various regulations to protect the wetland, said Zonggar, deputy chief of the department.

With the latest survey, Tibet has gained a basic understanding of its wetland distribution and ecological characteristics, he said.