More than 1.7 million trees have been planted in Ke'erqin Desert as wind breaks in China in an attempt to turn the desert into a wooded area in the past three years, according to a Japanese green organization Sunday.
The trees, including poplars, maples and other coniferous trees, have been planted by Green Net, together with the local authority in Ke'erqin in Inner Mongolia, Kataura Yoshio, said executive director of Green Net.
The number of trees planted by the green organization alone in its three-year effort since January 2000 reached 125,000 by the end of 2002, Yoshio said, adding so far about 1,000 Japanese people have joined the tours to plant trees.
Yoshio said that at the moment, it costs around 10,000 Hong Kong dollars (US$1,280) to extend the forest by one hectare, adding that it is anticipated to complete the project in 10 years.
(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2003)
