The Chinese government has approved a 10-year plan through 2010 to protect forests and the ecological environment in the western region through the launching of five major projects.
Under the plan, a project to protect the natural forest resources will be carried out in 13 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities on the upper reaches of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers.
In these places, wood cutting will be completely stopped in the 30.38 million hectares of natural forests, while another 30.8 million hectares of forests will be put under effective management and trees will be planted in a total area of 6.36 million hectares.
As part of a green shelter belt construction project in north, northeast and northwest China, 27.87 hectares of desert vegetation will be well protected and 9.5 million hectares of trees will be planted.
A sand control project will be carried out around Beijing, and a project to return reclaimed land to forest and grassland will be launched in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in almost everywhere in the country except the eastern coastal areas.
The nature reserve construction project is aimed at protecting various typical eco-systems and wildlife in the vast western China.
(People's Daily 09/18/2001)
