It aims to curb worsening soil erosion and desertification, as well as the frequent occurrence of sandstorms and droughts in China, a senior legislator said Wednesday.

The promulgation of the Law on the Prevention and Control of Desertification will improve ecological safety by preventing desertification and promoting the continuous economic and social development, said Jiang Chunyun, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC), at a meeting Wednesday in Beijing.

Statistics from the State Forestry Administration (SFA) indicated China's desertification area accounts for 17.6 percent of its total land -- or 1.689 million square kilometers -- and is increasing by 2,460 square kilometers annually.

This has resulted in many rivers and lakes running dry, sinking groundwater, flora recession and a plague of sandstorms and droughts nationwide.

For example, the desertification is estimated to cause the loss of 54 billion yuan (US$6.5 billion) each year in direct economic damage, and affects the lives of 400 million people in China.

To counter the adverse situation, the nation has conducted restless efforts to prevent and control desert land since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

By the end of last year, China has tamed more than 8.9 million hectares of desert land following the launch of a national sand control project in 1991, according to SFA Minister Zhou Shengxian.

Zhou hailed the new law as a "powerful weapon" when cracking down on the activities and crimes that destroy vegetation in desert lands.

The law is the third forestry-related law in China, following the forestry law and law on the protection of wild animals, Zhou said.

The forestry administration also would make efforts to strengthen the inspection system and execution of forestry laws, the minister said.

To push forward the implementation of the new law effectively, Jiang urged that different sectors -- including forestry, agriculture, water resources, land, meteorology and environmental protection sectors -- to co-operate under the leadership of the forestry authority of the State Council.

He also demanded local governments and relevant departments at all levels to take responsibility and co-operate closely on the prevention of desertification.

Also, people's congresses at all levels and their standing committees should enhance the supervision of the execution of the new law, Jiang said.

The conference was co-sponsored by the Environmental and Resources Protection Committee and Rural Affairs Committee under the NPC Standing Committee, the Legislative Affairs Office under the State Council and the SFA.

(China Daily December 20, 2001)