Breathtaking scenery is pictured from above at Daqing Mountain in Hohhot. [Photo by Le Yan/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The Helan Mountain and Daqing Mountain national nature reserves in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region were rated "excellent" in terms of nature reserves management and protection effectiveness.

The results were recently announced by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

The evaluation was initiated in July 2020 and targets the 82 national-level nature reserves along the Yellow River Basin.

The evaluation is based on 26 indicators in five categories, including management measures, management effectiveness, work highlights, characteristic experience and negative impact.

Undulating hills receive a splash of autumn color. [Photo by Le Yan/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Six national-level nature reserves in Inner Mongolia participated in the evaluation.

Nature reserves are the main way to protect biodiversity and also the main part of the current ecological barrier in the Yellow River Basin.

The unique geographical location and topography of Inner Mongolia have created complex and diverse ecosystems, mainly zonal ecosystems such as forests, shrubs, grasslands and deserts, and non-zonal ecosystems such as wetlands and sandy land.

Inner Mongolia has among the most diverse ecosystems in the country and has established 29 national-level nature reserves and 64 autonomous-level nature reserves.