NW China legislates to protect Hoh Xil nature reserve
Northwest China's Qinghai province has issued a regulation on protection of Hoh Xil, a remote nature reserve on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.
The bill bans all activities detrimental to the environment of the reserve, including quarrying, soil sampling and mining. Construction and tourism that affect wildlife are also forbidden. Anyone found breaking the regulation could be fined up to 600,000 yuan (about $92,000).
Covering 45,000 sq kilometers, Hoh Xil encompasses China's largest uninhabited area and is home to several endangered species, including the Tibetan antelope. A data base of the reserve's resources will be set up to assist researchers and educators in their work.
The reserve is working on an application to be listed as UNESCO world natural heritage in 2017.