A law to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was adopted on April 26 at a standing committee session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature. It will take effect on September 1. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is known as the Roof of the World, the Third Pole and the Water Tower of Asia.
“The plateau is an important shield for China’s ecological security. Therefore, the introduction of the law is of great significance,” said Yuan Jie, head of the administrative law section of the Legislative Affairs Commission under the NPC Standing Committee, adding that the significance of the law goes far beyond the plateau region.
Unique role
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the highest and youngest plateau in the world, with an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters. Stretching 2.58 million square km, it covers not only the entire Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province, but
