LHASA, May 15 – Friday’s fire on the Laru wetland of Tibet Autonomous Region has not caused major damage to the environment, according to the regional environmental protection bureau.
Although the fire swept over 1.5 square kilometers, or about 24percent of the entire wetland in Lhasa, it would not break the ecological balance of the environment and the burnt reeds would help plants and grass grow, said the bureau head, Jiang Bai.
However, management should be improved for the protection of Laru wetland, a state nature reserve, Jiang said.
The fire was caused by two careless fishermen at 3 p.m. Friday and it was put out about three hours later. No casualties were reported and the fishermen have been detained by police.
The Laru wetland is the world’s highest and largest urban natural wetland and the only inland wetland in China. It is located at an altitude of 3,645 meters with an area of 6.2 square kilometers. It accounts for 11.7 percent of the total area of Lhasa and is dubbed as the city’s “lung” as it produces 53,700 tons of oxygen every year. There are about 1,200 farmers and herdsmen living around the wetland today, according to the wetland protection station.
NOTE: Xinhua is a official news agency of the PRC.
