Abdulla Abbas, a National People's Congress (NPC) deputy from
the Xinjiang
Uygur Autonomous Region, on Saturday submitted a proposal
outlining measures to cope with the worsening ecological system in
the Tarim River Valley.
Abbas, also vice dean of the Xinjiang University Life Science
and Technology School, is attending the Third
Session of the 10th NPC, which convened in Beijing on
Saturday.
The Tarim River provides water to millions of people in
Xinjiang. The main plants in the river valley, diversiform-leaved
poplar and rose willow, can help to curb desertification: a single
tree can fix 10 to 100 cubic meters of sand.
The trees are now critically endangered as local residents fell
them to use as firewood. The emissions from many local oil
refineries also cause nearby trees to wither.
The shortage of water is also contributing to the tree' demise.
Annual precipitation in Xinjiang is quite low, so to ensure water
supplies for humans, livestock and agriculture, numerous diversion
channels have been built to bring in snow melt. However, these
cement channels prevent water from filtering into the soil and the
nearby trees shrivel and die for lack of moisture.
Oil and natural gas drilling also consumes enormous quantities
of available water resources.
Abbas proposed that Xinjiang make full use of its abundant
natural gas resources, giving every household access to this fuel
to replace firewood.
Also, oil and natural gas companies should be required to
appropriate funds to reduce harmful emissions and control water
usage.
Last, he suggested that a program be put in place to regularly
irrigate poplars and willows located near water diversion
channels.
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Tang Fuchun, March 6, 2005)
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