More than 300,000 hectares of deserts in China have been plagued by rodents, causing an immediate economic loss of 300 million yuan or about US$36.28 million. 

The indirect economic losses were estimated around 3.2 billion yuan, about US$386.94 million, sources with the State Forestry Administration disclosed Wednesday.

Ecologists attributed the situation to ecological deterioration in northwest China's deserts and the changing local climate.

The administration has required its branches to repair the broken food chain by facilitating the propagation of the rodents' natural enemies such as eagles, foxes and yellow weasels in order to bring the number of rodents under control.

It also called on local forestry departments to prohibit livestock grazing and hunting in desert areas that are covered with poor vegetation.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2005)