The "China Centennial Environmental Protection Tour in Tibet" officially kicked off Tuesday in Lhasa, capital city of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, to preserve the environment.

The activity is scheduled to last for one month, aiming at building up a shelter zone for safeguarding the ecological security and keeping the environment in good condition.

Surveys and researches will be carried out by professionals from the regional departments concerned from mid-August in Lhasa, Chamdo, Nagqu and Lhoka respectively, ranging over the building of shelter forest system, traditional energy replacement projects in agricultural and animal husbandry areas, the preservation of wildlife and natural grassland, and the effect of minor watershed control on environment restoration.

Started in 2003, the activity has played a key role in protecting ecological environment on the plateau by actively spreading the concept of harmonious relationship between human and nature, promoting the significance of environmental protection and castigating activities that harm the environment and violate laws and regulations, said Li Duosou, director of the executive committee of the event.

Li also pointed out that the environment in Tibet had not only a direct bearing on the regional ecological and territorial security, social and economic development, but also is a vital matter concerning China's ecological safety. He hoped that the program would help arouse people's awareness of protecting the environment.

The project to set up a shelter zone for safeguarding ecological security in Tibet was listed as one of the key national projects concerning environmental protection on February 18, 2009, at the 50th Executive Meeting of the State Council, following the approval of the "Plan on Protection and Construction of Ecological Security Shelter in Tibet".

By the end of this July, a total of 2.93 billion yuan allocated from the State Council was spent on starting subordinate projects concerned, achieving an impressive progress.

Tibet has succeeded in putting its forests, rivers and lakes, grasslands, wetlands, glaciers, snowy mountains and wildlife into effective protection at present, which in return created excellent environmental quality in terms of water, atmosphere, soil, sound and radiation.