China's southern most Hainan province has set up six new nature reserves this year, bringing to 29 the number of reserves, with a total area of 193,372 hectares.
According to the provincial forestry bureau, Hainan has launched a vigorous drive to protect black gibbons and a deer species native to Hainan, and develop a wild animal breeding center for endangered species.
In the next two years, the island province will establish another 11 nature reserves and give protection priority to wildlife and plants like partridge, leopard, black bear, the Hainan hare, water deer and peacocks, as well as orchid family plants and other plants.
By the end of 2005, the number of nature reserves will total 40 in Hainan, including six at the State level protection and 30 others at provincial level. The total area of the nature reserves will amount to 305,000 hectares, or 8.89 percent of the total area on the tropical island.
(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2003)
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