HAIKOU /China/, Oct. 28. /TASS/. Hainan Jianfengling Tropical Rainforest National Park published a scientific publication with a list of 256 specially protected species of flora and fauna of the island. This was reported by the Hainan Daily newspaper.

According to the newspaper, the list of animals and plants under the vigilant care and protection of the state, was announced at a symposium held this week in Hainan's administrative center in Haikou City. Specifically, the Hainan gibbon and a native species of hoya, a fragrant tropical flower in the rose family, made the list.

According to Professor Ma Keping, Chair for the Asia Regional Members Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Deputy Director for Biodiversity Committee of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the publication of the compilation is "an important outcome of research work" as well as "a new milestone in activities to protect the diversification of fauna and flora in the Hainan Rainforest Park." For more fruitful efforts in this direction, he said, scientists should continue to accumulate information concerning rare species.

It is expected that the next stage of Hainan's animal and plant research will actively implement modern technologies and methods. According to Chinese experts, they should be used to identify key areas for biodiversity conservation, which will improve the efficiency of activities to protect the flora and fauna of China's southern province.