A long-term grassland development strategy has been drawn up by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, which aims to restrict grazing and restore pasture in the next five decades.

According to the plan, by 2010, China will increase its total enclosed grassland to 100 million hectares, renovated grassland to 40 million hectares and planted grassland to 20 million hectares, with a restricted grazing policy covering about 40 percent of the country's usable grassland.

By 2020, the enclosed grassland will then be expanded to 150 million hectares, renovated grassland to 60 million hectares and planted grassland to 30 million hectares, with restricted grazing policy covering about 60 percent of China's usable grassland.

The ministry hopes that the strategic plan will finally help the country realize a healthy circulation in the grassland ecological system, with all deteriorated areas treated by 2050.

China now boasts approximately 400 million hectares of natural grassland, about 13 percent of the world's total grassland acreage and the second largest in the world.

Statistics with the ministry state that at the end of 2005, China's total planted grassland was 13 million hectares, renovated grassland about 14 million hectares and enclosed grassland 33 million hectares, with only 20 percent of the country's usable grassland under a restricted grazing policy.

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2006)