The State Council approved a plan to integrate and optimize the national nature reserves and the national scenic and historic areas in Zhejiang, Fujian and Shandong provinces in a reply released on June 17.

The implementation of the plan should prioritize ecological conservation, abide by laws and regulations, adapt to local conditions, and highlight their unique characteristics to achieve synchronized progress of ecological conservation, green development, and people's well-being.

Relevant departments and local governments must strictly implement the relevant nature reserves regulations, fulfill their responsibilities for ecological and environmental protection, strengthen organizational leadership and coordination, enhance supervision and law enforcement against all types of illegal activities concerning the nature reserves, and ensure the implementation of all management measures.

The name, scope, as well as management and control zones of the national nature reserves and the national scenic and historic areas will be announced by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.