Chinese people afforested 3.79 million hectares of land in 2005, and the country's forest coverage has reached 18.21 percent, a report of the National Greening Committee said Saturday.

 

The annual report on China's afforestation situation said more than 500 million Chinese participated in the voluntary tree-planting activity, with 2.23 billion trees planted.

 

The key forestry programs, such as the natural forest protection program and the shelterbelt development program in north China and along the Yangtze River, contributed mostly to the achievements.

 

More than 1.17 million hectares of land was afforested under the natural forest protection program and another 544,400 hectares was planted under the shelterbelt development program, according to the report.

 

In addition, another key forestry program for desertification control in the areas near Beijing and Tianjin went on well by afforesting more than 680,000 hectares of land and restoring nearly 200,000 hectares of grassland, according to the report.

 

The green coverage increased 33 percent in these areas and the frequency of sand-dust weather was reduced by 17 days a year compared with that in 2000, when the program was launched, said the report.

 

The average green coverage in urban areas has increased to 31.66 percent as more and more cities have given due attention to the greening work when building roads and renovating old urban areas, said the report.

 

The report also warned that the forest resources in China are far from enough considering the need of future economic development and the government should take effective measures against illegal logging and to improve public awareness of ecological protection.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2006)