Mar. 18, 2019 -- Tibetan natives piled stones by Pegu Lake in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region to pay homage to nature. It is believed that local people’s faith has helped it remain one of the world’s most pristine places. [Photo by Palden Nyima/China Daily]

Mar. 18, 2019 -- Known as the “Roof of the World” and the “Third Pole”, Southwest China's Tibet is considered an important ecological protection screen in China.

At the annual conference of the region's Ecology and Environment Department last week, local authorities called for more pollution prevention through greater efforts this year.

Mar. 18, 2019 -- Nomads in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region’s mountainous area offer pilgrims yak and horse rides to help them with their trips. The primitive transportation method remains the key way for locals to commute and is believed to cause little harm to nature. [Photo by Palden Nyima/China Daily]

Mar. 18, 2019 -- According to department head Norgyal, local government invested more than 10 billion yuan in ecological construction projects in 2018.

Tibetcreated up to 50,000 new jobs related to environmental protection for rural residents in 2018.

The annual ecological subsidy paid to residents who agree to convert their farmland to forest or grassland and conduct ecology patrols was raised to 3,500 yuan ($518) per capita last year, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Mar. 18, 2019 -- An oasis is surrounded by a unique landscape in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region. [Photo by Palden Nyima/China Daily]

Mar. 18, 2019 -- Forest coverage also is on the rise, exceeding 12 percent, and reached 742,000 hectares by last year, Norgyal added.

About 33 million yuan has been set aside as a compensation fund for conducting ecological protection and preservation work along the upper stream of the Yangtze River.