BEIJING, Dec. 23 -- China has set up 21 new state-level nature reserves, increasing the country's total conservation area to nearly ten percent of the country's land territory.

A circular approving the new reserves was issued Tuesday by the State Council General Office.

The newly-established nature reserves, with a total area of more than 6,200 square km, are scattered across 15 provinces and autonomous regions, including Liaoning, Fujian and Henan provinces and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The reserves will become sanctuaries of 35 state-level endangered animal species, such as the Manchurian tiger, giant panda and golden monkey, as well as 12 kinds of rare wild plants.

The number of national nature reserves has now reached 428, covering 930,000 square km.

The reserves are important in protecting biodiversity and implementing international conventions, the circular said.