85% wildlife in China under effective protection

At least 85 percent of land biosystems and wildlife have been effectively protected in China. [File photo]

At least 85 percent of land biosystems and wildlife have been effectively protected in China since the country has set up its biodiversity conservation network, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) stated on Thursday.

A new system comprised 2,729 natural reserves, and a number of forests, wetlands and geological parks, covering over 1.7 million square kilometers, 18 percent of China's land territory.

The MEP, however, admitted that overall degradation of biodiversity has not been halted. About 90 percent of grassland is degraded or is desertificated, about 40 percent of wetland is under threat and the survival of 10.9 percent of higher plants and 21.2 percent of vertebrates is under threat.

Some rare species remain unprotected, the MEP added.