A survey of China's 973 Program research project, Deserts and
Desertification in China, shows that in recent years the average
annual economic loss caused by the destruction of ecosystem and
environmental pollution has occupied nearly 14 percent of GDP,
according to China Business News of April 18.
Such economic losses stood at 420.16 billion yuan (US$52.52
billion) in 1994 and rose to 700 billion yuan (US$87.5 billion) in
2000.
These figures do not cover other potential losses relating to
animal and plant life.
The survey pointed out that environmental protection measures
already in place to stop further land degradation should be further
improved.
In 1998, the National Ecological Environment Construction
Program set out the goal: the area of desertification under control
to reach 22 million square kilometers by 2010 and 40 million square
kilometers by 2030.
Yet the northwest China which suffers the most serious
desertification problem has a shortage of water resources. Hence
the target should not have been set too high before the issue of
water shortage is got addressed, according to the survey.
Desertification is the main cause of sandstorms. According to
Chen Guangting, an expert with the national 973 Program research
project on desertification, sandstorms were not only be caused by
warm and dry weather but were also closely linked to agricultural
development in northwest China.
Deep ploughing, the main cultivation method taken in vast
northwestern areas, turned loose and wet soil over onto the
surface. Because of the dry weather, this soil lost its moisture
content quickly and blew away. The months of March and April are
the busiest farming season in northwest China.
Wang Tao, chief scientist of the national 973 Program research
project on desertification, said, "From the history of sandstorms
in Beijing we can draw two conclusions: Firstly they often happen
about 30 years after substantial land reclamation and secondly the
dry and cold weather make a contribution to its happening."
According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the potential for
sandstorms will be heightened in coming years. Wang Tao said there
were four factors to be considered: soil resources were
over-utilized; the degradation and reduction of grassland couldn't
easily be rectified; water shortages were becoming more serious and
the soil was not holding water.
As human beings are unable to control the weather yet, said Wang
Tao, the key to ease sandstorms and desertification lies in the
protection of the ecosystem.
The government should strengthen the regulations and also work
out policies to forbid any activity which could be harmful to the
environment.
The 973 Program, launched in 1998, is a national program for the
development of basic scientific research. It involves
multi-disciplinary, comprehensive research on important scientific
issues in such fields as agriculture, energy, information,
resources, population, health and materials, providing a
theoretical basis and scientific foundations for policy making.
The program encourages outstanding scientists to do research in
cutting-edge science and in fields with a significant bearing on
socio-economic development.
(China.org.cn by Wang Ke, April 20, 2006)
