Chinese experts estimate that desertification in the country is annually causing a direct loss of 64.2 billion yuan ( some US$7.73 billion) with indirect economic losses of 288.9 billion yuan (US$34.8 billion).

The direct losses are mainly from the loss or decrease in soil productivity caused by wind and water erosion, being frozen-and-melted, and saline and alkaline soil, said Lu Qi, researcher with China Research and Development Center for Prevention and Control on Desertification.

The indirect losses came from suspension of communication and transportation, villages being buried, delay or canceling of flights and reduction in the life of irrigation works, which are heavily affected by desertification.

Investigations show that China has 2.62 million square kilometers of areas under desertification, double the total farmland in the country.

"We should take more effective measures to control the desertification," said Lu.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2003)