The State Forestry Administration says man-made Shelter Forest System, which protects Chinese cities from sand storms, is expected to be completed soon in China.

The Administration says over the last five years, key environmental areas of the Yangtze River Basin and North China have both received greater finanicial contributions.

The latest statistics collected by the administration reveal the Yangtze River Basin shelter forest has grown to 3.4 million hectares, which amounts to 30 per cent of the land in the basin.

This represents a 3.3 per cent improvement in forest coverage since the beginning of the project.

Areas alongside lakes and coastal areas will be made priorities of the program during the next phase.

(CRI October 9, 2005)