The Chinese Government plans to inject 3 billion yuan (US$360 million) to improve the region's ecology, a total exceeding the country's ecological investments at the provincial level and covering the largest area of land.

Due to rapid desertification, the autonomous region is regarded as a major origin of sand and dust storms that suffocate Beijing.

Beijing residents experienced the most fierce dust storms of the decade in March, with each person in the city being hit by an average of more than 2 kilograms (4.4 lb) of dust.

Experts said the storm was a product of northern China's extreme drought conditions, a warm winter without snow and a sudden flow of cold air flow from western Siberia.

However, they said the deterioration of the environment because of excessive land exploitation, overgrazing and logging had exacerbated the sandstorm problem.

In addition to government funds, public donations are counted on for the building of the green Great Wall, according to Chen Ruiqing, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the regional People's Congress.

"Everyone should do something to help improve the environment and everyone will benefit from doing so," Chen said.

Chen said the autonomous region's practice of improving the ecosystem by calling for public donations was still something new in China and was worth promoting.

The autonomous region's project has attracted 30 million yuan (US$3.6 million) in donations over the past two years. Overseas donations attributed about 1 million yuan (US$120,000) to the total.

Chen said the green Great Wall project was expected to attract contributions from 1 million people and various institutions to allow more than 66,500 hectares (164,325 acres) of trees and grass to be planted by 2005.

Experts believe China entered an active sandstorm phase in 1999. It is predicted to end next year.

The country's greening policy in regions suffering from desertification can assist to combat the problem, they claimed, but that more time is needed to bring about any noticeable improvement.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2002)