BEIJING, Aug. 5(Xinhuanet)-- China announced 17 new state level nature reserves Friday, making the total number 243, according to the State Environmental Protection Administration(SEPA).

The 17 reserves are divided into five types, including forests, inland wetlands and lakes, deserted ecological systems, and wildlife and geological relics, which will help greatly in maintaining ecological balance and scientific research.

Among these places, Huichun Manchurian tiger nature reserve in northeast China's Jilin Province claims the highest number tigers across the country.

SEPA regulated that in the central and surrounding areas of these nature reserves, no tourist activities and production facilities are allowed to be built. The construction projects in the experimental zones in these places are also required to submit environmental appraisal and legal approval.

China now has 243 national nature reserves covering 89.44 million hectares, accounting 9.2 percent of the country's total 960 million hectares of territory. Enditem