February 1, 2008 -- China will invest 1.567 billion yuan (US$215 million) over the next ten years to protect and improve the ecological environment of Qinghai Lake, reported the state-owned Xinhua news agency. Officials from the provincial forestry department told the agency that more than 111,800 hectares of land around the lake has been suffering from desertification caused by overgrazing and global warming, and partly by the increased number of tourists.

To curb ecological degeneration on the lake, China has already invested 470 million yuan (US$65 million) in recovering the plants around the lake and dealing with desertification.

The 10-year project covers 29,661 square kilometers, with the purpose of helping to conserve the ecological environment of the Qinghai Lake valley and improve the living conditions of local farmers and herdsmen, a spokesman of the Qinghai Provincial Development and Reform Commission told the agency.