Shanghai to cover its one third with trees and grass by 2020
( 2002-02-02 14:15 ) (1 )

China's famous port city will be transformed into a forestry metropolis by 2020, with green land covering a third of its 6,430 square kilometre prefecture.

This was the announcement made by Shanghai's top officials on Friday.

Shanghai has worked out a specific plan for local residents to each have 8 square metres of green land on average and the wooded coverage of the city to reach 20 per cent by 2005.

"Growing more trees and grass will improve the biological and investment environment of the city, which benefits us and generations to come,'' said Acting Mayor Chen Liangyu.

The director of the Municipal Landscaping Administration, Hu Yunhua, said meteorological and environmental experts conducted examinations, resulting in the conclusion that the increased green land downtown has significantly helped to reduce the greenhouse effect and balance the biological environment.

Chen said the city's green plan aims to be a fatal weapon to sharpen the edge of its comprehensive competitiveness based on its endeavour to maintain a sustainable development.

It is also a response to the State's call to reclaim forest from farmland, and adjust the forest industry to a strategic position.

"We must grasp this golden opportunity to forge a forestry city,'' Chen said. "All sectors of the city must get involved enthusiastically into this meaningful campaign.''

Vice-Mayor Feng Guoqin said the country has decided to spend 700 billion yuan (US$84.64 billion) improving the current situation of forests and boosting the industry. Shanghai's project has been highlighted on the country's green spending list.

According to the blueprint worked out jointly by the city's urban planning administration, the landscaping bureau and the agricultural and forestry bureau, a green network will be set up between downtown and the suburbs.

In the suburbs, one third of Shanghai's farmland will be left to grow crops, one third to grow trees and the other third to grow economic plants, such as vegetables and flowers, Feng said.

The scattered farmhouses outside the outer-ring road will be torn down to grow trees, and farmers will be removed to new towns.

Feng reminded related departments to take good care of these farmers.

This year, the city will build more than 800 hectares of public green land and 12,000 hectares of woods, which increases the present 5.5 square metres of green land per capita to 6.5 square metres and forestry coverage will reach 12 per cent.

To facilitate the project and make it sustainable, more technology and investment have been demanded, so the operation will follow the rules of the market economy. Social funds and foreign input are welcome to take part, Chen said.