People who damage large areas of grassland now face up to five years’ imprisonment, according to a new judicial interpretation that aims to prevent conflicts arising from illegal mining and construction. The Supreme People’s Court said judges are also advised to levy heavy fines to those who illegally occupy or convert the use of pastureland covering an area larger than 1.33 hectares. Yu Housen, Spokesman for the Supreme People’s Court, said grasslands account for more than 41% of China’s territory and have tremendous ecological significance. At least 45 million people, around 3.5% of China’s population, live on grasslands, mostly in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Tibet. Yu said the environment of grassland areas has been degraded every year, and the land has been used for cultivation, mining, road building and urban construction. “Some of these projects permanently damage the environment, while the damage from others can only be undone at a high cost,” he said. The judicial interpretation is expected to help ease concerns over environmental costs by curbing the illegal conversion of land use. Last year, two truck drivers, both affiliated with mining companies, were sentenced to death in Inner Mongolia after killing residents in disputes over mining pollution, the China Daily reports.