Hohhot steps up environmental projects

A volunteer plants trees at Horinger New Area in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on April 10. [Photo/nmgnews]

Hohhot plans to invest 15 billion yuan ($2.23 billion) into greening projects and ecosystem restoration over the next five years, according to local authorities.

The city plans to have an additional 2.5 million mu (166,667 hectares) of green area by the end of 2023, bringing its total forest coverage rate to 30 percent.

Wei Hongjun, director of the Hohhot forestry and grassland department, said that the city aims to spend 2.5 billion yuan planting 4.18 million trees.

He stressed that the local government will promote greening projects in major areas, particularly the township area and industrial parks, in order to improve the living environment.

Ecological restoration of the city's poverty stricken areas is also on the agenda.

According to Wei, Hohhot plans to encourage people living under the poverty line to help protect forests, which could result in 130 additional jobs.

Ways to minimize government expenditures on forest protection are currently in the works, and campaigns to fight illegal activities such as burning forests and encroaching on forestland will also be carried out.