Thirty-seven more areas in Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, have met the requirement to be labeled internationally important wetlands and especially significant waterfowl habitat, a latest survey said.

 

More than 700,000 waterfowl were observed at Poyang Lake, a sharp increase from 300,000 according to a survey conducted by the State Forestry Administration and the Jiangxi Wildlife Protection Bureau.

 

According to the convention on wetlands, 37 of the 49 areas surveyed have met the criteria, said Yu Changhao, an official with the provincial bureau.

 

Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the survey focused on the number, species and habitation of waterfowl on the lake, located in east China's Jiangxi Province.

 

Previously, only nine areas of Poyang Lake were listed as wetlands of international importance.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2006)