The Chinese government will invest 1.92 billion yuan (about US$231 million) to protect the environment and forest resources in the southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region in the coming five years.

According to a plan of the State Forestry Administration, Tibet will start 11 key ecological projects and 14 forestry projects funded by other provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of the country over the next five years.

Importance will be attached to the afforestation projects in Lhasa, the regional capital, and nearby areas, as well as protection of natural forests, construction of seed-breeding and sapling base, protection of wild animals and plants, construction of nature reserves, education on forestry science and construction of forestry infrastructures.

China has already poured more than 119 million yuan (US$14.33 million) into the region's forestry industry in the past five years.

So far, Tibet has completed construction of 24 forestry projects funded by the central government and other provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of the country. Two more are under construction.

Doje Cering, a leading official of the regional forestry bureau, said that in the next five years, Tibet will strictly protect natural forests and stop cutting commodity forests in some areas to protect local forest resources.

(Xinhua News Agency 09/25/2001)