The Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea (forest) in Yibin in southwest China's Sichuan Province yesterday was listed as a world-class bamboo reserve. It is also the fourth tourism destination in China to be granted the "Green Globe 21" certificate, according to Richard Hooper, managing director of Green Globe.

Located in Canberra, Australia, Green Globe sets the global benchmark for certification of environmentally friendly tourism sites. Certification is based on Agenda 21 - which embodies the principles for sustainable development endorsed by representatives of 182 countries and regions from around the globe during the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992.

The Bamboo Sea covers 120 square kilometers.

The city has improved the environment in this bamboo forest to achieve sustainable travel and tourism in line with the standards of Green Globe 21, said Yuan Yongjing, an official with the Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea Administrative Bureau.

"It has returned 21 hectares of farmland to forests, banned coal and introduced gas, treated oily smoke from kitchens of 38 hotels to control greenhouse gas emission.

(China Daily December 17, 2003)