China has restored over 8 million hectares of ecosystems, achieving the ecological protection and restoration targets set for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), according to the Ministry of Natural Resources on Tuesday.
The country has so far implemented 52 projects on the holistic conservation and restoration of mountains, water, forests, farmland, grassland and deserts, with notable progress in ecological protection and restoration, the ministry said.
In addition, 49 demonstration projects for the restoration of legacy mining sites and 195 marine ecological restoration initiatives have been carried out, it said.
"To date, we have restored approximately 1,780 kilometers of coastline and 53,000 hectares of coastal wetland. Significant strides have been made in the protection and restoration of mangroves, with China being one of the few countries globally to see a net increase in mangrove areas," said Li Jianzhong, deputy director of the Department of Territorial and Spatial Ecology Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Natural Resources.
The ministry also said that by the end of 2024, the central government had allocated 100.65 billion yuan (about 13.8 billion U.S. dollars) for these holistic conservation and restoration projects.
Looking ahead, by 2035, China aims to keep at least 3.15 million square kilometers of land within its ecological conservation "red lines". The country also plans to keep at least 35 percent of its natural coastlines in a natural state, ensure that protected land areas cover no less than 18 percent of its land areas, and fully establish a nationwide park system. These initiatives are expected to strengthen the resilience and stability of China's ecosystems, fostering a self-sustaining and healthy cycle.
The red lines cover areas that are critical in environmental function, ecologically sensitive and vulnerable, and vital for biodiversity.
China achieves ecological protection, restoration goals for 2021-2025
