China plans to spend 14 million yuan (US$1.86 million) to protect the wetlands near Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak, according to an official with the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Gama, chief of the administration for Mount Qomolangma State-level Nature Reserve, said 5,900 hectares of natural wetland in the reserve will be sealed off and 4,400 hectares of degraded wetland will be restored. Observation stations will also be built to monitor the ecology, weather, water and birds in the area.

(China Daily November 6, 2007)