The Lhalu Wetland National Nature Reserve, photos from China Tibet Information Center.

Zhang Yongze, head of Tibet Environmental Protection Bureau, receives interview, photo from China Tibet Information Center.

The drive of reform and opening to the outside world has contributed a lot to environmental protection of Tibet Autonomous Region, preventing it from being polluted.

"The blue sky and limpid water intuitively indicates that great achievement have been gained in environmental protection of Tibet since the reform and opening-up policy," said Zhang Yongze, head of Tibet Environmental Protection Bureau, when received interview from domestic journalists, who are now touring Tibet to report Tibet over the last 30 years.

China's Tibet Autonomous Region is situated on the main body of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. With high altitude, unique geographical features and rich wildlife, water and mineral resources, it has been called the "Roof of the World" and the "Third Pole of the Earth", and boasted as "starter" and "adjuster" of climatic changes in Asia even the Northern Hemisphere. Enjoying nature-endowed animal and plant resources, Tibet is of great ecological importance to China, and even the whole world, turning the region into a key ecological and safe shelter of China. Hence, the central government as well as Tibet's local governments at all levels, have never stop exerting efforts to preserve the region’s fragile entironment

"Environmental issue is on top of Tibet's governmental agenda as it closely ties up with the climatic change of China as well as Asia," said Zhang Yongze.

Taking the Lhalu Wetland National Nature Reserve as example, Zhang said Tibet in recent years has allocated huge investment to protect environment. 

Because of historical reasons, the Lhaltu Wetland was badly occupied for other usages, 20 years ago. In 1998, Tibet local government decided to restore the Lhaltu Wetland in a bid to better protect living environment. Howbeit, the action stirred a great clash between people who occupies the wetland for private use and officers with environmental offices. In 1999, the Lhaltu Wetland was listed into nature reserve at regional level and then upgraded to state level in 2005. In 1998, Tibet set up 30 million yuan discount-interest loan to help some enterprises to switch to another line of products, following the close of 7 cement plants, which harm to zoology of Lhaltu Wetland.

"Under no circumstances should we seek industrial development at the expense of the environment and resources. It becomes a common agreement, "Zhang said, "We are focusing on developing industries such as tourism and folk medicine, which free from pollution."

Talking of the conflict between development and environmental protection, Zhang said Tibet always place prime emphasis on protecting weak entironment while seeking for development. Besides, a total of 1.54 billion yuan was invested to protect natural landscape and environment along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which shortens the distance between Tibet and other mainland regions of China as well as foreign countries.

During the 10th-Five-Year Plan, investment for environmental protection in Tibet reached 2.4 billion yuan. Ban on usage of plastic bags, also known as "white pollution", was carried out in Tibet in an all-round way on June 1st, 2006 in Tibet.

According to Zhang, by far, there are 40 different nature reserves at different levels in Tibet with a total of 408,300 sq.km., taking up almost 34.03 per cent of the total territory of Tibet, on top of this kind in China.

Tibet is also the kingdom for both animal and plant. 125 national key protection wild animals, 38 protection plants at state level, including some endangered ones, such as Tibet red deer, live in Tibet scattering in different areas.

"My wish, as well as the common wishes of all people serving for environmental protection, is to let blue sky and clean water forever stay in Tibet," said Zhang Yongze, who has worked for Tibet's environment for almost 10 years.