HOHHOT, July 13 (Xinhua) -- China's grasslands have seen steady ecological improvements in recent years, with both the functionality and productivity of grassland ecosystems showing significant gains, according to official data released on Monday.
The area of healthy and sub-healthy grasslands now stands at 180 million hectares, accounting for about 70 percent of the country's total grassland area, said a statement issued at an event marking the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, held in Hohhot, the capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
China ranks first in the world in grassland area, with nearly 267 million hectares of grasslands stretching across its vast territory.
The country has ramped up efforts to protect and restore these ecosystems over the years, implementing major ecological projects, strengthening supervision over grassland resources, and rolling out subsidy and reward policies to encourage sustainable pastoral practices.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China restored an average of more than 3 million hectares of degraded grasslands each year, while preventing and controlling rodent and pest infestations on over 6.6 million hectares of grasslands annually. The annual output of fresh grass exceeded 600 million tonnes in this period, reflecting the steady recovery of grassland productivity.
In the course of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will continue to improve its grassland governance system and enhance its grassland management capacity, the country's forestry and grassland authorities have noted. ■
