Environmental Protection

For the promotion of ecological agriculture, four counties have become qualified for the national pilots, and 25 counties have become qualified for the provincial pilots. The environment for agriculture has kept improving, in line with the effective control of surface contamination, the extensive treatment of the industrial wastes, the substantial drop in total fertilizer consumption, the widespread use of highly effective, low-residue and low toxic agrochemicals, and the integrated treatment and use of crop straws.

Protection of Biodiversity

Jiangsu has 436.5 thousand hectares of wetland, and boasts the largest muddy coastal land in Asia. It is on the coastal wetland that five nature reserves have been built to protect the valuable birds and animals. The implementation of GEF project is under way. In addition, there are 33 national and provincial forest parks and 23 nature reserves. The flock of Milu (David Deer) has grown to 586 in 2001 from 39 in 1986. The flock of over-wintering red-crowned cranes in Jiangsu has grown to over 1,100 birds, representing 60% of the red-crowned crane population in the world.