A project to encourage Chinese youngsters to plant 200,000 trees for the conservation of soil and water was kicked off Friday in Tianjin Municipality in north China.

Besides Tianjin, the trees will be planted in areas of the country's vast north including Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi provinces and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The project is part of a nationwide campaign to motivate all Chinese young people to make a contribution to environmental protection, said Tao Hong, a director with the office in charge of the campaign.

Tao indicated that the campaign has produced woods totaling 800,000 mu (53,333 hectares) since its debut five years ago.

As many as 300 million youngsters participated in the campaign and some 882 projects for afforestation or river protection have been implemented, he said, adding that many other people and organizations have made significant donations as well.

The office will name some woods or sections of rivers after individuals who donate over 20,000 yuan (2,400 U.S. dollars) and organizations who pay more than 100,000 yuan (US$12,000)as recognition for their efforts, according to Tao.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2003)