BEIJING, Sept. 20 -- China has allocated 10 billion yuan (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) designated for funding pilot ecological conservation and restoration projects this year, the Ministry of Finance said Friday.

The central fiscal funds went towards improving the ecology of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, and grasslands in 10 key areas.

Three billion yuan of the funds was handed down recently, and seven billion yuan was alloted in 2018 in advance, according to the ministry.

Since launching the pilot conservation and restoration program of 25 pilot projects in 2016, the country has allocated a total of 36 billion yuan to protect natural areas with a holistic approach.

The ministry said it will continue to inject funds into the program and step up supervision and assessment of existing projects.

China has stepped up efforts to protect and restore ecosystems. Besides the pilot projects, its efforts include afforestation and the control of desertification, rock desertification, and soil erosion.

The country has strengthened biodiversity protection and continues to work on turning marginal farmland into forest, grassland, and wetlands, according to a government work report.