Int'l experts gather for grassland management in NW China

Asia Sustainable Grassland Management Consulting Conference was held in northwest China's Gansu Province on Saturday, with participants from 13 countries.

Sponsored by Asian and Pacific headquarters of Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the conference attracted over 30 international experts from China, the Republic of Korea, Japan and other major Asian countries to the Lanzhou University in Lanzhou, capital city of Gansu.

They discussed topics ranging from grassland restoration and ecology, management policy for grassland culture, proposing policy and technical advices to FAO.

China boasts a grassland area of 400 million hectares, or 41 percent of its total land territory, ranking the second in the world.

However, the work of grassland conservation and management has long been neglected, causing grassland deterioration and desertification problems.

Dr. Vinod Ahujia, an official from Asian and Pacific headquarters of FAO addressed on the conference that experts were expected to evaluate current situations of grassland in Asian countries and regions, and work out a strategy for sustainable development eventually.

"Grassland situation in China is in the limelight, to protect grassland resources will bring positive outcomes to the world," said Pan Baotian, vice president of Lanzhou University. Endit