As Wu Yingjie,vice executive chairman of the TAR and the NPC deputy said, "Tibet is willing to sacrifice the speed of economic development to protect ecological environment" at the two sessions of the 12th National People's Congress and the 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in March, 2013.

Wu's resolution reflects two points: First, Tibet's economy maintains a good momentum; Second, environmental protection as a global issue, exists in China’s Tibet as well. But the local government is trying its best to seek the best way out and has made progress.

During the crucial years of the 12th Five-year Plan period(2010-2015), a balanced development mode has been adopted by the local government of Tibet. Tibet’s gross domestic product has exceeded 70 billion yuan (about 11.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2012 with an average annual growth of 12 percent.

Tourism as the pillar industry is the backbone of Tibet's economy. And it grows owing to the comprehensive transportation network, favorable government policies and publicity contribute, and most importantly, the dedication and support of the local Tibetan people.

According to official statistics, some 6.85 million people visited Tibet in 2010, with the tourism revenue of 7.14 billion yuan.

In 2012, tourist number to Tibet hit a record high of over 11 mln yuan, generating 13.2 bln yuan (about 2.1 bln USD) tourist revenue.

Based on that, Tibet is expecting 20mln annual tourists in five years, according to the information from the annual two sessions (Tibet People's Congress and Tibet People's Political Consultative Conference) held in Lhasa on Jan. 24, 2013.

The growth of tourism revenue has provided opportunities for farmers and herdsmen who are involved.

Tibet's well-protected traditional culture plays an important role in maintaining the huge market potential. Many tourists came to experience the traditional Tibetan festivals such as the Year of Water Snake Losar(or the Tibetan New Year) and the Sagya Dawa Festival.

However, Tibet will not only concentrate on the economic development.

With a multifarious physiognomy and diversified natural conditions, TAR's ecological environment is vital to China and even the world's ecological balance and resource protection, said Wu Yingjie at the two sessions of the 12th National People’s Congress and the 12th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Right now, under the solicitude of the central government, a large fund has been invested in environment protection in Tibet. The Tibet's Ecological Security Barrier Protection and Construction Planning has been implemented. Therefore, it is predicted that the total investment from 2008 to 2030 in environment protection will reach 15.5 billion yuan (about $2.5 billion).

With the exponentially economic development, the aspect of environmental protection gradually becomes the concern of the international community. Some media assert that Tibet's economic development has been achieved at the expense of the environment. They claim that the past few years have witnessed environmental degradation in Tibet due to unlimited exploitation and unscientific mode of development.

However, it is not true. By and large, Tibet's environment has been well preserved over the past few decades. If you have followed us on the environment channel, you are liable to find out achievements made by Tibet in terms of environment protection. The population of wildlife has increased. The air and atmosphere quality has maintained a high quality and can be compared with that of the South Pole. The clean energy such as solar energy and methane power have been popularized, providing conveniences to people's lives.

There are environmental problems amid economic development though. It is a pressing issue facing not only Tibet, but also other parts of China and even the world. Environmental issues, in the first place, stem from economic and social progress in developed countries. As Tibet's economic development has made strides ahead, environmental problems start to come to the fore.

The environmental problems in Tibet are due partly to natural conditions such as climate change and desertification, and partly to "man-made" factors such as negligence of environment while focusing on development. Whatever the reasons behind, the Chinese government and Tibet local government have made all-out efforts and taken effective measures to respond to any problems detected.

Water and soil preservation

The water and soil erosion is a universal problem facing not only Tibet, but also other countries around the world. The phenomenon of desertification has appeared in several areas of Tibet due to over-excavation decades ago.

Based on the information from the Forest Bureau of northern Tibet's Ngari Prefecture, the anti-desertification programs had kept its momentum in 2012. Till June last year, the total investment had hit 60.6 million yuan（about 9.8 million US dollars）in planting trees and grass totaling 15,370 mu and building canals of 4.08 kilometers.

Around the city of Lhasa, many parks and a large area of green space has been built up to improve the urban environment through the anti-desertification program, coupled with other campaigns including grass and forest planting, forest protection and returning grazing to forest.

Within the city, Lassa had also made efforts in carrying out the green project. In 2012, it had imported 11 new tree species including Magnolia liliflora and Koelrenteria paniculata aimed at adding colors the street views.

A goal had been set up by the Tibetan government to intensify ecological campaign, striving to reach 19 percent of forest coverage and 85 percent of sewage treatment and 100 percent of nuisance free waste disposal.

Till the end of 2012, Tibet had accomplished 103 percent of the total plan through both forestation by labor and closing hills, according to the director-general of the forest bureau.

During the whole process, a subsidy mechanism had been set up for farmers and herdsmen in the suspended pasturing area using allocation from the financial department of the central government. The subsidy was divided into two categories. The first was for suspended pasturing area. The second was subsidy for raising livestock. This act had, on a large scale improved the ecological environment on Tibet Plateau as a magnitude of pastures had been saved from cows and sheep. Meanwhile, it had not neglected people's benefit.

Besides, statistics show 90 percent of the wetland totaling 15 million hectare squares has been effectively protected. In the past five or six years including 2012, Tibet has established in succession eight wetland protection areas such as Mitika preservation area totaling 530,000 hectare and three wetland parks of 40,000 hectares, which help to preserve water and soil.

Tibet has continued to promote the construction of water conservancy, and the investment is expected to increase to nearly 400 million yuan (about 63.17 million US dollars). In 2011, Tibet had completed the construction of 23 small-scale irrigation and water conservancy in key counties of Tibet. In 2012, follow-up projects had been implemented in ten counties.