A series of projects for marine ecosystem conservation, which include a marine ecological reserve involving Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, will be carried out during China’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) period, said an official on Jan 22.

Wang Hong, head of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), said one of the projects will focus on inshore pollution control, aiming to boost the conservation of 16 heavily polluted bays and repair the environment of another 50 coastal areas.

For the conservation of coastal wetland, Wang said the SOA plans large-scale planting of protective trees, including some 2,500 hectares of mangrove forest, 4,000 hectares of reeds and 1,500 hectares of sea-blite.

The SOA will work to improve biodiversity in waters around islands and reefs. Work will begin on the protection of islands that form the basis points of China’s territorial waters. A marine ecological reserve involving Nansha Islands in the South China Sea will be built.

China will continue marine exploration, boost the industry of equipment for deep-sea resource exploration and development and promote the utilization of deep-sea resources, Wang added.