Government of Qinghai province plans to improve the ecological environment for rivers and lakes in Qinghai in next thirty years.

Qinghai Lake is the largest lake in China, covering an area of 4583 square kilometers. The lake sits at an altitude of 3266 meters (10,712') and is called "Koko Nor" in Mongolian and "Tso Ngonpo" in Tibetan.

Recent years, the water level has been lower and the grassland around it has degenerated, influenced by human economic activities and weather's becoming even warmer and warmer.

The number of rare species of fish,as well as birds who feed on the fish, shrinks year by year. The ecological environment deteriorated.

To better improve the zoology, Qinghai province plans to invest 5 billion yuan (US$603 million) in next 30 years to carry out 10 zoological projects, including comprehensive treatment on the lake, water keeping, and maintaining variety of biology. the project involves four counties and 23 villages,including Haibei and Hainan.

(Eastday.com.cn 07/24/2001)