Eco-protection in north China, Yellow River basin sees notable gains

Results of a recent assessment showed marked improvements in ecological protection across national nature reserves in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yellow River Basin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment said on Monday.

All 18 national nature reserves in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region were rated either "excellent" or "good" in the assessment, ministry spokesperson Pei Xiaofei said at a press conference.

Pei highlighted the recovery of wildlife populations, including an increase in the brown eared pheasant population in Beijing, as evidence of continued progress.

The assessment also covered 137 national nature reserves across nine provincial-level regions in the Yellow River Basin, where 99.27% were rated "excellent" or "good," Pei said.

Specifically, efforts to curb soil erosion and desertification have delivered remarkable results, while the populations of key endangered species, such as giant pandas and snow leopards, have risen steadily, the spokesperson said. 

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is among China's most densely populated areas and a major industrial hub, while the Yellow River Basin is widely regarded as a cradle of Chinese civilization. 

Given the ecological fragility of both regions, restoration efforts have been stepped up in recent years.