According to the introduction of the Environmental Protection and Afforestation Commission of the PLA, the army has been carrying out "afforestation and sand-control" activities on the wasteland at training grounds, ranges, farms and depots, and this year, the army has afforested over 133,400 hectares of wasteland, bringing about remarkable social and economic results.

　　Du Yunsheng, director of the General Office of the Environmental Protection and Afforestation Commission of the PLA, noted that most lands for military use were mainly located in areas where the natural conditions were poor, and quite a few of them were at the country's key ecological environment transformation areas. The government has decided to afforest "three barren" lands (namely, barren hills, wastelands and uncultivated beaches) in the military controlled areas, and which would be organized and implemented by the army. On the basis of argumentation and verification, the Environmental Protection and Afforestation Commission of the PLA worked out "Ecological Environment Construction Plan of the Army in 2003-2007. The General Staff Headquarters, the General Political Department, the General Logistics Department and the General Armaments Department of the PLA also teamed up to work out the "Management Regulations on Afforestation of Barren Hills, Wastelands and Uncultivated Beaches by the Army" in light of the "Regulations on Converting Land for Reforestation" by the State Council and other related laws and regulations. In addition, they also worked out detailed specifications and definitions with respect to the scope, principles, funds, and project management of afforestation project as well as final check for acceptance of the projects. Besides, all major military area commands, services and arms have also worked out the detailed rules and managing methods for afforestation work. Up to now, 150,000 person/times from the army have been involved in the project, and have finished 33 afforestation projects with each covering an area of more than 667 hectares. The total forestation area done by the army amounts to 39,353 hectares, and grassland amounts to 26,013 hectares and restoration of vegetation area amounts to 65,366 hectares.

　　By Xu Jinzhang and Xiao Junhong

　　(December 18, PLA Daily)