Representatives of nine nature reserves in China's vast west have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), pledging joint efforts in environmental protection.

In the memorandum, inked in Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, by staff of the nature reserves in Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan, a pledge was taken to share information about environmental protection.

The western part of China has boundless areas, making it difficult for law enforcement officers to protect and maintain local eco-systems. Before the MoU, five of the nine nature reserves had already been collaborating on cracking down on illegal activities that were damaging the environment.

According to the memorandum, staff of the nature reserves are to regularly report their conditions to each other, and compile figures in order to release reports about the environment in these areas.

"We hope to cooperate like brothers and together consolidate the environment in China," said Hao Wancheng, from the management bureau of the Three-River-Source National Park.