A Sino-Australian project on forestry resources management was
launched Tuesday in Qinghai Province, northwest China, to improve
the natural environment of the arid province.
The project is designed to promote forestry resources management
expertise among local officials and farmers, raise their awareness
of the ecological issue, assist them to curb soil erosion and
increase the forest coverage in the shortest time possible, said
Lydia Morton, an official from the Australian Embassy in China.
The project is expected to lift local farmers out of poverty and
help maintain sustainable development in the province, she
said.
If
successful, it will be promoted to other provinces in northern
China to improve their overall environment, said a local forestry
official.
With 12.25 million Australian dollars (US$6.7 million) from the
Australian government, the project is the largest of its kind ever
to be launched in Qinghai Province.
The Chinese central government and the Qinghai provincial
government have also spent 32 million yuan (US$3.85 million) on the
project.
Qinghai, at the source of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers, China's
two longest rivers, has abundant resources. However, the province
is strapped for money and technology to improve the environment
because of its poor natural conditions and underdeveloped
economy.
To
date, the Chinese government has invested 440 million yuan (US$53
million) to help improve Qinghai's natural environment.
(eastday.com July 25,
2002)