The city government of Shanghai is planning to make more environment-friendly areas. (Photo : REUTERS)
As announced by Shanghai's top planning body, the city government has assigned 44 percent, or 4,364 square kilometers, of its land as protected green areas.
According to the Shanghai Planning, Land and Resources Administration, the areas will mainly cover water source, natural reserve, mountains, forest parks, and wet land and rivers.
The administration revealed that around 96 sq. km. (1.5 percent) of Shanghai's lands have already been declared as top protected, prohibiting the creation of any developmental work in the region.
The move comes after the city's per capital ecological area has decreased and lagged behind China's national average. Compared to the 12.6 square meters per person in urban China, the average public green space in Shanghai is only 7.1.
The administration also shared that the ecological area only accounts 55 percent of Shanghai's total territory.
Shi Jiaming, deputy director of the body, shared that "nearly all valuable ecological land across the city are within the protected red line."
The top protected areas include the Dianshanhu Lake, the Chongming and Jiuduansha Islands, and the city's main tap water source, Qingcaosha Reservoir.
While no industrial and commercial projects are allowed, the planning group said that they will give permission to selected essential infrastructure projects relating to the residents' daily lives.
"Strict evaluation of environment and public hearings will be held before any infrastructure project is permitted in the protected area," Shi stated.
Shanghai officials will also commence the demolition of illegal constructions in the protected areas in a bid to offer more ecological space for the city's residents.
