Beijing will rein in water and soil erosion and put fierce sandstorms under control by afforesting half of its land by 2010.
According to the ambitious plan worked out by the municipal government recently, the afforested urban area will be increased by 40 percent in a decade.
Five rivers running through Beijing and 10 highways and railways linking Beijing with the cities outside the capital will have 20- to 200-meter-wide green belts built along their banks.
Some 12 major sandstorms have swept north China this year, including Beijing. Local and central governments have been alarmed by the dust storms and implemented a number of emergency measures.
The State Forestry Administration has decided to start a five-year sand control project on the outskirts of Beijing this year to improve the environment.
(Xinhua)
