Hainan Province, in southernmost China, has built 66 nature reserves covering a total area of 2.69 million hectares.

The government of this tropical island province, the second largest island of China after Taiwan, allocated 4.31 million yuan (US$519,280) last year for the management of these nature reserves. The Jianfeng and Tonggu mountain ridges have been converted into state nature reserves, and the Wuzhishan Mountain nature reserve has applied for state-listed park status.

Hainan Island has built a protective network for its forests, water resources, wildlife, scenic spots and marine resources.

The protective measures have led to an increase in the number of endangered wildlife and plant species. The province now has 4,600 kinds of vascular bundle wild plants, accounting for 15 percent of China's total. Some 600 species are native to Hainan.

The number of terrestrial vertebrate species in Hainan is 566, accounting for 18.8 percent of China's total, and that of reptile species is 104, or 33 percent of the national total.

Tourists are flocking to the island in search of unspoiled natural beauty.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2003)