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CPPCC Member Urges Natural Pasture Protection
Protecting natural pastures is the key to curbing desertification and beating back sandstorms in north China, a member of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) said Wednesday.
Li Guangyi, who is also president of the Northwest China Institute of Forestry, made the remark at the second plenary meeting of the Forth Session of the Committee, in session since March 3.
Li attributed the sandstorms hitting north China to excessive grazing, which has led to serious desertification.
China's grassland stretches for more than 3,000 kilometers from west to east in the north and meadow acreage reaches 177 million hectares, or 18.4 percent of national total land area. However, 92 percent of the pastureland has become medium-desertified, he said.
Based on investigations and research, Li said, desertified grassland in the northwest, north and northeast China is the major source of sand in north China.
He suggested making it a goal to prevent and curb desertification, and exert efforts to restore ecological balance in the pasture area by fencing up and protecting natural grassland, planting trees and grass in desertified areas, promoting rational grazing and returning farmland to grassland and woodland.
He also suggested that protection of natural pasture be given the equal treatment granted to natural forest protection.
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