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China steps up grassland protection

2015-02-28 16:52 chinadaily.com.cn Web Editor: Si Huan
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Scenery of West Ujimqin Banner in Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. (Photo/Xinhua)

Scenery of West Ujimqin Banner in Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. (Photo/Xinhua)

The improvement in grassland ecosystems has speeded up and productivity in some regions has recovered to the level of the 1980s, according to the Ministry of Agriculture of China.

Total output of fresh grass reached 102,219.98 tons last year despite severe drought in some areas, 4.04 percent higher than the average for the past decade, according to the National Grassland Monitoring Report 2014.

Monitoring 23 provinces, including autonomous regions and municipalities, the report shows that vegetation coverage of grassland nationwide is 53.6 percent, a growth of 2.6 percent on 2011.

Thanks to the "returning grazing lands to grasslands" program, areas involved show a 6 percent increase in vegetation coverage compared with non-program pastures; 53.6 percent more in height of vegetation and 30.8 percent better in output of fresh grass, the report said.

According to data, 15.2 percent of China's key grassland is overloaded with livestock, 1.6 percent lower than last year, the 10th successive year the figure has fallen.

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