The warm breeze in Beijing is bringing a springtime snow -cotton-like fluff that comes off poplar trees.

But those days may be numbered since local forestry officials are busily replacing the poplars with other tree species.

While poplars are still by far the most popular trees in Beijing, their pesky catkins are somewhat unpopular because the white stuff can trigger asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. Physicians even report that patients show up at hospitals with irritating skin allergies.

In fact, about half of the patients who suffer skin allergies every April and May cite poplar catkins, according to doctors.

In order to control the annoying problem, municipal forestry officials have plans to cut down nearly 1 million female polar trees in Beijing and to plant other species or male poplars. Only the female trees flower and bloom producing the catkins.

So far, more than 500,000 female poplars in Beijing have been replaced.

However, experts point out that poplars aren't all bad. The tall and erect trees quite suit the dry and harsh climate in northern China.

And the poplar's hardiness and speed of growth have made it the ideal tree for Beijing's large-scale tree planting projects in the 1960s and 1970s. Most of the poplars around Beijing were planted at that time, and now make up about 70 percent of the municipality's total tree population.

Because poplars have a short life span and generally only last about 30 years, officials say it is time to replace the massive old trees with fresh saplings on a step-by-step basis.

The bureau has worked out a plan on tree planting in the next decade after soliciting opinions of experts in many fields.

It divided the urban area of Beijing into different zones, such as public places, roadsides and residential areas, and selected special trees that suited the environment and landscape of each zone.

Fast-growing trees such as poplars are being planted, along with longer-lived trees like ginkgo.

Authorities advise people to identify the sex of the poplars they intend to plant and choose male ones with the help of gardening officials.

Xu said the picture of white stuff floating around Beijing every spring may become a rare scene in the near future.

Su Jin, a 25-year-old Beijing resident, said the catkins were indeed annoying.

"I had better enjoy the floating white stuff while I can, because it won't be around for much longer," Su said. "Actually, I even grow a little sentimental when I think of the catkins being gone - they are like a gentle message telling you that spring is here."

(China Daily April 15, 2004)