Mount Fanjingshan. [Photo by Yang Enuo/Asianews]

"We also emphasized that the relocation of local residents will be totally based on the voluntary principles," he said, adding that the residents were willing to move after feeling that they could actually benefit from the relocation.

After moving out from the mountainous areas of Fanjingshan and accepting the settlements arranged by the government, lots of residents who were living in poverty managed to improve their living conditions, he added.

IUCN, the official advisory organization on the natural sites of the UNESCO heritage meeting, releases assessment reports on the nominated natural heritage sites ahead of the world heritage meetings.

Mount Fanjingshan, the highest peak in the Wuling Mountain range at an altitude of 2,572 meters, stretches on an area of 402.75 square km with a buffer zone of 372.39 square km.

The ecosystem of Mount Fanjingshan has preserved large numbers of ancient relict plants, rare and endangered creatures, as well as unique species. It is home to 4395 species of plants and 2767 of animals.

Mount Fanjingshan. [Photo by Yang Enuo/Asianews]

In addition, it is the only habitat of the rare Guizhou snub-nosed monkey and the Fanjingshan fir, the most important reserves of beech forests in Asia and the world's most gymnosperms-rich area.

In October 2013, Mount Fanjingshan was listed as the national natural heritage of China, after which it was proposed by China as the country's only natural heritage nomination for 2018 world heritage meeting.

"We will continue to make efforts to protect and manage the natural heritage site of Mount Fanjingshan, improving the basic infrastructure there, based on the decision of the World Heritage Committee and the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage," said Song Xiaolu, head of the Chinese Guizhou delegation to the World Heritage Committee meeting.

The 42nd World Heritage Committee meeting, held from June 24 to July 4, has discussed 28 nominations to the World Heritage List, including five natural sites, 20 cultural sites and three mixed ones.