The Taihang Mountain Range in the north has once again become a paradise for wild animals, thanks to the country's "grain for green" campaign and years of protective efforts.

Forest authorities in Zanhuang County in Hebei Province said that more than 20 species of wild animals including leopards, wild boars, foxes and wolves, can now be found in the Zanhuang part of Taihang, which runs through Hebei and Shanxi provinces.

Pointing to some wild ducks in a pond, Jiao Jianxin, head of Yuhuang village, said that the increase of the number of wild animals in the area is, first of all, attributable to strong environmental protection efforts.

The government has banned hunting and selling wild animals, and is strictly enforcing the ban.

"Meanwhile, local farmers are treating wild animals as their friends instead of enemies and competitors, and therefore, there are more and more wild animals," he added.

Taihang was once a haven for numerous wild animals. But over-farming, reckless logging and increased human activities have made barren many parts of the mountain, not only driving away wild animals but also causing serious soil erosion.

And this has also been the case in most parts of the country, officials said.

To arrest the trend of environmental deterioration, the government has, since the end of 1998, banned logging of natural forest and launched an ambitious "grain for green" campaign, under which the government provides seedlings and grain or cash subsidies to farmers in return for their quitting farming on mountain slopes while planting trees.

"Because of plenty of rainfall, 90 percent of the 133 hectares of trees planted in our village have survived," said Qi Fengmin, head of Sishijiazhuang village.

(Eastday.com July 2, 2003)