Traditionally, Tibetans hold their mountains and rivers holy and
          stress their adaptation to them. This is a very favourable condition
          for environmental protection. However, credit is largely due to the
          work of the government for the remarkable achievement Tibet has made
          in environmental protection.
         
          First, the Legislations. Based on relevant State laws and decrees,
          the Tibetan People's Congress and government have, in line with
          local specific conditions, formulated more than 20 local decrees and
          regulations for the protection or administration of forests, wild
          animals, grasslands, water resources, mining, urban construction and
          charges on pollution, etc. With the implementation of the
          ''Regulations on Assessment of Impact of Building Projects in
          Tibetan Autonomous Region on the Environment'' assessment has been
          made of all the building projects in the last decade that have
          impact on environment. Meanwhile, all new and renovated projects are
          required to have their pollution- treating installations designed,
          built and put into operation simultaneously with the main part of
          the project. When the Lhasa tannery was rebuilt and enlarged with
          aid from German government, treatment of polluted water formed an
          important component of the project. In 1992, the standing committee
          of the People's Congress of the Autonomous Region adapted the
          "Regulations on the Administration of Environmental Protection of
          The Tibetan Au- tonomous Region"; in 1993, the government of the
          Autonomous Region made decisions to strengthen environmental
          protection against development. To see to the strict enforcement of
          these Legislations, the Region's People's Congress Standing
          Committee and People's Government have jointly set up co-ordination
          teams to inspect work in the various parts of the Region, stop
          illegal acts, raise the awareness of the public on environmental
          protection and enhance the supervisory role of the masses over it.
         
          Second, publicity drives. Publicity drives of various forms are
          conducted such as regular bulletins, seminars, speech-making in the
          streets, special programmes and columns in newspapers, radio and TV
          broadcasts. Chairman of the Autonomous Region Government even made a
          TV speech on World Environment Day. At a township of Bagen County in
          a grassland of north Tibet, in early 80s, the local hunters, under
          instructions from the township, killed the three leopards that used
          to harass the domestic animals of the inhabitants. Little did the
          people expect that with their natural enemy eliminated, the jackals
          multiplied fast. They took away about 300 cattle and sheep annually,
          which meant a heavier loss for the herdsmen. Then they planned to
          wipe out the jackals. However, experts came to teach them the ABC of
          biological chain, urging prudence in jackal hunting. For without
          them as cleaners of the rotting carcases, epidemic may spread among
          the livestock. The herdsmen were only too glad to learn this.
         
          Investigations of the basics in environment constitute the
          groundwork of environmental protection. In recent years scientific
          investigations have been completed in Tibet on industrial pollution,
          soil, natural radioactivity, organic chlorine in grain, etc. Coupled
          with investigations on natural resources, they form the scientific
          basis and technical reference for the work of environmental
          protection in Tibet.
         
          More agencies, better technical personnel and increased investment
          are playing an important role in promoting environmental protection.
          Environmental protection became regular work with the establishment
          of a leading group of environmental protection of the Tibetan
          Autonomous Region in 1975. Established in 1990, the Environmental
          Protection Commission of the Tibetan Autonomous Region unifies
          leadership over the work of environment protection of the whole
          Region. Now, with environmental protection bureaus set up at both
          the Region and prefectural levels, there are altogether 12 agencies
          exclusively for environmental protection and a good number of
          administrative and technical personnel have been trained, too.
          Investment in pollution treatment has increased enormously; for
          instance, 3 million yuan has been allocated for the removal of
          industrial smoke from Lhasa.
         
          In 1990, the first modern environmental monitoring station was built
          in Lhasa, with seven monitoring points around the outskirts of the
          city, all equipped with most up-to-date meters and instruments. The
          environmental monitoring station in Xigaze, the second largest city
          in Tibet, was completed and started operation in 1993. The
          monitoring station in Qamdo of east Tibet is under construction. A
          monitoring network over whole Tibet is taking shape.