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Ningxia Bans Picking Sand-fixing Wild Plants
The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in Northwest China, has banned the picking and sale of sand-fixing wild plants, such as wild algae and licorice root.
At a live television conference Monday, the provincial government announced in Yinchuan a series of measures to check such activities, which have posed a serious threat to the fragile ecological environment.
Statistics show that in recent years, about 160,000 farmers in the region had been engaged in the picking of wild algae, licorice root and other wild plants.
All picking, sale, purchase, process and export of these plants are prohibited, and those breaking the ban will be severely punished, according to a circular from the government.
In the meantime, the government is also taking measures to help the farmers out of poverty.
Experts said that wild algae and other sand-fixing plants play an important role in protecting the eco-environment, particularly grass.
But rampant picking and digging of the wild plants in recent years has resulted in the deterioration and desertification of grassland, seriously damaging the ecological environment.
Algae, a black hair-like plant, is a popular purchase, as the Chinese pronunciation of the word is similar to "facai," which means "making a fortune."
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