Urgent...Donate a Tree to Aid Beijng'sSandstorm Protection

The seasonal sandstorms that invade Beijing at this time of year are again reminding people of the importance and urgency of improved environmental protection. All who live in the city, say the authorities, should realize their common responsibility and never allow it--our shared home--to be covered by sands that have long blanketed some other areas in northern China and Mongolia.

Research of Beijing's 32 windy sandstorms last Spring showed that 18 originated from Mongolia, 14 of the total being formed in Inner Mongolia. Because it will take time for the Beijing government to reach a cooperative agreement with Mongolia to combat the sand, the most practical alternative will be the creation of a protective "green barrier" around the city.

Project Hope, China's best-known and most successful charity project under the China Youth Development Foundation, is launching a tree-planting project both in Inner Mongolia's Duolun County and Beijing's Miyun County to improve the environmental situation long-term.

More-detailed research showed that 80 percent of the sand that plagues Beijing is from Duolun, just 180 kilometers from the capital. This county's Dashabuleng village, one of three Duolon areas where sandstorms originate, is at present blanketed by yellow sand, including the roofs of about 40 village homes. The sand inevitably brings numerous other inconveniences to villagers, but they have no means of combating it effectively - not least because it is constantly shifting in face of strong winds.

Project Hope and Duolun County government plan to improve 10,000 mu (667 hectares) of land in Duolun, a task which calls for an investment of 960,000 yuan.

As part of the overall sand-protection exercise, experts say an effective way to protect Beijing's water resources is to plant trees near the Miyun Reservoir, the city's prime water resource. A total of 3,900 mu (260 hectares) of land will be subjected to a tree-planting program. Each single mu of trees requires a donation of 200 yuan. Program organizers will employ local villagers to actually plant the tree saplings.

Donation Hotlines: 6611-0001/2/3/4/5/6.

The Beijing government has listed 19 tree-planting locations to aid volunteers in their search for a site where they can contribute to the various programs.
District &Counties	Planting Location	Contact person	Telephone
Xicheng District	Seed Plot of West Dam	Xiao Fulai	66039452
Chongwen District	Along the railway from Beijing Railway to Beijing South Railway Station	Zhang Xiuming & Ma Zuwei	67142073
Xuanwu District	Guang'anmen	Wu Wei	83517250/63558915
Chaoyang District	Chaoyangwa Li	Yang Shumin	64902916
Haidian District	Wenquan Town	Zhang Xiaoyu	62458792
Fengtai District	5 Nongchang Rd, Marco Polo Bridge	Wang Qi	83891735
Shijingshan District	Laoshan District	Lin Fengjun	68840103
Daxing District	Yongding River	Jiang Liwen	69244138
Fangshan District	Majiagou, Tuoli	Shi Yonghuai	61389264
Mentougou District	Tanzhe Temple	Cao Dianying	69844610
Changping District	Beiqijia Town	Xu Lianqi	69746051
Yanqing County	Bada Ridge & Longqing Canyon	Wang Huakun	69103992
Miyun County		Li Zhixin	69042019
Huairou County	Qinglong Canyon	Lu Wenying	69642794
Pinggu County	Xiaoyuzi Village, Dahua Mountain	Zhang Xirong	89980107
Shunyi District	Longwantun Town	Huai Yufen	69442974
Tongzhou District	New Bridge of the Canal	Sun Limin	81512847
The Ming Tombs	The Longshan Subzone	Zhang Yongfu	69742248