Three-River-Source National Park announces public ban from core protected areas

Tourism, expeditions and crossing activities are all forbidden in the core protected areas of the Three-River-Source National Park, the administration of the park said.

No organization or individual is allowed to enter these core areas without permission, it said in a post in its official WeChat account on Wednesday.

Those who violate the ban and cause severe damage to the natural resources and ecological environment in the areas will be transferred to public security organs and prosecuted for criminal liabilities, it warned.

It said those who need to carry out scientific research observations and investigations in the core areas need to submit applications to the administration. They should work in the core area in accordance with approved plans and route only after the administration greenlights these activities.

Without approval from the administration, no organization or individual should release any information related to the park on the internet, newspapers and magazines, it said.

The administration made seven phone numbers public to accept tip-offs about violations from the public.

Located in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Three-River-Source National Park contains the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers and is known as China's "water tower".

It is the most sensitive region in response to global climate change, and one of China's priority areas for biodiversity conservation.