The city government of Changchun, capital of northeastern Jilin Province, has begun relocating 16,000 local residents out of a forested area to make way for a large scale forestry project.

Meanwhile, 51 work units inside the Jingyue Lake Forest Park, said to be the largest artificially-built forest park in Asia, will also move to other places.

Changchun plans to invest 1.82 billion yuan (approximately US$220 million) to plant some 4,240 hectares of trees in the next eight years.

Located nine km southeast of the downtown area of Changchun, the state-level Jingyue Lake Forest Park boasts close to 100 sq km of artificial forest and a clear water space of 4.3 sq km.

Local experts of environment said that the forest park absorbs 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide and generate 5,880 tons of oxygen for Changchun city annually.

The existing forest environment was resultant over seven decades of construction and protection. With the growing presence of human beings in recent years, the forested area has been dwindling and surface vegetation deteriorating and there have been repeated occurrences of plant diseases and insect pests.

Upon the completion of the project, the forest coverage rate in the park will rise to 58.5 percent from the current 37.4 percent.

The project was officially launched early this week.

Huang Wenhua, an official with the park management committee, said that a dozen state-level scenic zones in China had planned forest projects, for the purpose of improving eco-environment and achieving sustained growth of ecological resources.

The Changchun city government is expected to build a new residential zone for the displaced citizens and provide them with preferential services to start their own businesses or seek more jobs opportunities.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2004)