China's six major afforestation projects absorbed 25.58 billion yuan (US$3.08 billion) in funding last year, up 53.69 percent from 2001 figures, said a state statistical bulletin.

More than 22.952 billion yuan (some US$2.76 billion) of the funding came from the central government, up 70.63 percent from the previous year, according to the statistical bulletin released by the State Forestry Administration on Sunday.

Last year, good results were reported concerning afforestation in the six leading afforestation projects, including natural forest protection, the conversion of fragile land to forest and windbreak forest construction.

A total of 6.8 million hectares of land were afforested during the period, making up 87.15 percent of the country's total area designated for afforestation last year.

The increase in government funding for afforestation greatly promoted the development of forestry, resulting in the ensuing environmental improvement and the alleviation of soil erosion and desertification in some areas of the country.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2003)