According to the Three-North Forest Shelterbelt Program, China will afforest an area of 7.75 million hectares in the coming five years in order to further improve ecological environment in the Northeast, North and Northwest China areas, which will effectively reduce continuous desertification of land areas, relieve soil erosion and improve the net of farmland and forest in the country, said a responsible official with the State Forestry Administration recently, according to Xinhua on Saturday in Beijing.

The official said China will protect strictly the more than 42 million hectares of forest land in the three-north forest areas in the future in light of the principle of "overall preservation, emphasis placed on construction, breakthroughs made in partial areas, comprehensive promotion". Stresses will be also put on the prevention and control of desertification, reduction of wind and sand harms, and lowering the frequency of sandstorms.

Headwater conservation, water and soil conservation capacity, flood reduction, and the improvement of safety-guaranteeing factor concerning the life and property of the masses will be enhanced. The construction of farmland shelterbelts and the renewal, transformation and continuous improvement of comprehensive grain production capacity will be strengthened. The construction of human living environment and the greening and beautification of urban and rural roads will be boosted.

By People's Daily Online