Four Chinese new biosphere reserves Wednesday became members of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Since the UNESCO's adoption of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program in 1971 China has set up 21 World Biosphere Reserves.
Xu Zhihong, chairman of the Chinese National Committee for MAB,said that the MAB program stresses harmonious social and economic development in World Biosphere Reserves.
China has participated in international MAB activities such as the East Asian Biosphere Reserve Network, which includes Japan, Mongolia, Russia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea and China, says Xu, who is also vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Chinese Biosphere Reserve Network sites contribute to the implementation of the Agenda 21 and related International Environmental Conventions, in particular the Convention on Biological Diversity, said Axel Hebel, officer-in-charge of the UNESCO Beijing Office.
China has made a great contribution to protecting the global environment and sustainable development, he says.
(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2001)
