Biodiversity protection helps endangered species rebuild populations

China's efforts to protect habitats and biodiversity have increased population of many endangered species, according to a release from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration on the 23rd International Day for Biological Diversity, which falls on May 22 every year with this year's theme being " From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity".

The administration said since the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the country has made significant efforts to protect flagship species, resulting in growth in populations of rare and endangered wildlife and plants.

More than 300 rare and endangered wildlife and plant populations, including snow leopards, Siberian tigers and orchids, have seen their numbers rise.

For example, the population of Pinus squamata (Qiaojia pine) has grown from 34 since it was found in 1990s to more than 3,000, the administration said.

Over the years, the distribution area of the Siberian tiger has expanded from the Changbai Mountains to the Greater and Lesser Hinggan Mountains, with a wild population of around 60. The distribution area of the crested ibis has expanded from three to seven provinces, with a wild population of over 7,000, the administration said.

The central government aims to establish an extensive system of national parks across the country that will cover more than 10.3 percent of the country's land area.

By 2025, the country aims to protect 75 percent of its national key terrestrial endangered wildlife species and 80 percent of national key terrestrial endangered plant species, the administration said.