The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has set up 56 nature reserves, initially forming a comprehensive and reasonably distributed nature reserve network for the effective protection of wildlife resources.
Guangxi is one of the regions of sophisticated species and rich wildlife resources in China.
After more than 40 years of efforts, the region's nature reserves have extended to 1.7 million hectares, or 7.5% of the total area since the establishment of first batch of nature reserves in 1958. Said network consists of 11 nature reserve for comprehensive protection, 31 for water forest conservation, 4 for rare animals, 2 for rare trees, 6 for birds and 2 for mangrove forest.
In recent years, Guangxi has found a new way of "protecting nature reserves through developing them". Most of these nature reserves, making full use of their rich resources, have developed diversified operations, including tourism and special species breeding, which have brought remarkable economic, ecological and social returns. Take tourism for example, a total income of more than 40 million yuan was chalked up in 1999.
The operation of diverse businesses has also boosted the development of relevant industries and aroused local people's enthusiasm in the protection of natural resources.
(China Daily)
