Li Ning, vice-director of the No.1 Survey and Design Institute under the Ministry of Railways, which contracted the project design of the railway, told Xinhua that ecological protection deployment is proceeding in every section of the upcoming railway.

The 1,118-km railway will extend from Golmud in Qinghai province in northwest China to Lhasa in Tibet. It will be the longest and most high-elevated railway built on highlands in the world. A 100-km section from Golmud to Wangkun is expected to be finished within the year.

"The railway to be laid on permanent frozen earth and the ecologically fragile plateau has led to great concern over the ecological problems of the project," Li said.

China has tackled difficulties caused by the construction on frozen earth. Comprehensive environmental appraisal will keep pace with the construction of every railway section, said Li.

The railway will run through three important ecological areas, namely the arid desert region, frozen earth areas and nature reserves.

According to the ecological protection plan, a "green belt" consisting of grass and trees will be built along the planned railway.

The rail route was designed to detour and therefore avoid disturbing nature reserve areas. The government has solicited wildlife experts' opinions on animals' travel and migration habits, and ordered the railway design staff to elevate the railway in the nature reserves to allow space for wildlife to pass.

(People's Daily 04/30/2001)