XINING -- The plateau province of Qinghai in northwest China plans to spend more than 175 million yuan ($25.7 million) protecting three major wetlands.

The work, which will take for at around two years, will cover over 150,000 hectares of wetland, with 75 million yuan spent this year, according to Qinghai forestry department.

The fund is aimed at restoring vegetation and protecting the habitat of birds and fish, as well as upgrading monitoring facilities, according to Ma Jianhai with the department.

Qinghai has three wetlands of "international significance": Gyaring, Ngoring and Qinghai lakes, among 49 such wetlands nationwide, Ma said.

Wetlands are crucial to regulating climate and maintaining the ecological balance. Qinghai has 8.14 million hectares of wetland, the most of any province-level region.