Xie Zhenhua, State Environmental Protection Administration minister, said ecological protection is "currently even more urgent and crucial than pollution control in China," and therefore deserves more attention from local governments.

The country's overall ecology has been "deteriorating" in the last decade despite impressive economical achievements, Xie said.

Xie also said the ecology of West China has become a "danger" rather than only a "trouble."

According to a recent ecological survey by the administration, the eroded lands in the west already account for 62.5 percent of the country's total and no end is in sight.

The desertificated lands in the west increase by more than 3,000 square kilometers annually in the last two years compared with 2,460 square kilometers in the late 1990s.

The "fragile" ecology in the west has resulted in more frequent natural disasters in recent years, the survey said.

Xie required environmental authorities at all levels to shift much of their attention from pollution control to comprehensive ecological protection.

The definition of "environmental protection" includes "both aspects," said Xie, conceding that during the last decade the administration has emphasized pollution control only.

Xie made such requirements to local environmental officials around the country gathered in Beijing from yesterday until tomorrow for the National Ecological Protection Meeting.

Zhu Guangyao, vice-minister of the administration, urged local environmental bureaus to combine their efforts with other governmental departments to protect the environment. Those departments include land, water resources, construction, agriculture and forest.

The administration also condemned a few local governments' "short-sighted" plans to build excessive natural tourist destinations, echoing Premier Zhu Rongji's previous remarks.

During his talk with some officials last weekend, the premier criticized such behavior by warning them "not to lose the last stakes."

Premier Zhu also listed domestic scenic spots including Taishan Mountain, Huangshan Mountain, Zhangjiajie and Huangguoshu Waterfalls for their excessive exploration of local tourist resources with little protection of the local ecology.

But the administration understands the importance of ecological protection and has ratified six batches of ecological protection pilot provinces and cities nationwide since 1995.

These pilot cities have been exploring various ways to upgrade the local environment along with pursuing economic development.

In North China's Heilongjiang Province, 14,000 hectares of farmlands have been explored to produce "green food" without using fertilizer.

Rice from these farmlands has been exported to more than a dozen countries, the administration said.

Chongming County in East China's Shanghai Municipality and Pinggu County in the suburbs of Beijing have been honored as "urban gardens."

(China Daily March 12, 2002)