BEIJING — China's wetland area increased by more than 3 million mu (200,000 hectares) over the past five years, official data showed.

China stepped up efforts to enhance wetland conservation and restoration, strengthening functions of wetland ecosystems and protecting wetland biodiversity during the 2016-2020 period, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

The central fiscal allocated 9.87 billion yuan ($about 1.53 billion) for wetland protection and launched more than 2,000 wetland protection and restoration projects during the period.

China has also established a national wetland protection system for tiered management of wetlands nationwide. It added 201 national wetland parks over the past five years, with the total number reaching 899.