Remarkable results have been reported in the Chinese capital's greening campaign. By the end of 2000, the forest cover had come to account for 43% of the land area under the jurisdiction of Beijing Municipality, up from 36.26% five years ago. Some 36% of the land space in the urban part of Beijing had come to be covered with green, as against 32.4% in 1996. The figures suggest that the combined area of public green sports now averages at least 10 square meters for each member of the local population, while the figure was 7.08 square meters five years ago. The river systems in town have all been dredged and cleaned, resulting in a complete change in the water quality of many lakes and rivers, including the south and north sections of the City Moat.

(BOBICO 06/08/2001)