China has set up 1757 nature reserves of all kinds with a total area of 132.945 million hectares by the end of 2002, accounting for 13.2 percent of the national territory, well over the world average, according to the latest statistics by the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).

In a recent circular, SEPA, in collaboration with the ministries of agriculture and land and resources and the State Forestry Administration, urged that Chinese nature reserves improve their quality in management.

The circular said that all nature reserves have to well define their territory and land property right and strengthen supervision and management in resource development within their jurisdiction.

It said that all criminal acts against the objects under protection in the nature reserves will have to be cracked down upon in accordance with the law. Those nature reserves with poor management will be asked to rectify before a deadline and those that fail to improve will be warned and punished administratively.

(www.cenews.com.cn March 4, 2003)