A list of 20 candidates for the award on environmental protection, first of its kind by the Chinese government, was announced in Beijing on Tuesday.

These include Tian Guirong, who volunteered to collect used batteries at his own cost of 200,000 yuan (US$24,600), Song Jun, an entrepreneur who championed a drive to reforest a desert and Jiang Rong, author of a popular novel that appeals for attention to ecological protection.

Most of them are volunteers for the protection of environment.

"A large number of individuals have made prominent contributions to environmental protection in China. They play an important role in arousing the environmental protection consciousness of the whole society," said an official with the organizing committee.

"We establish this award to commend their environmental protection efforts on behalf of the public. Meanwhile, we also hope the award will encourage more people to join their ranks," he said.

The 20 candidates were selected by the organizing committee based on the 35,823 people's recommendations.

Out of them, five will eventually win the award according to the appraisal of an expert panel, votes by netizens and a public survey.

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2005)