Hebei’s green belts protect Beijing from sandstorms

Shijiazhuang (CNS) -- Hebei has built a green zone of 33.75 million mu (more than two million hectares) over the past 12 years to buffer Beijing and Tianjin from desert sand invasions.

Among all Chinese regions attempting to convert desert into useful land this northern province has had the greatest success with the largest area, the provincial bureau to combat desertification said Thursday.

At present, 12.3 percent of Hebei is wilderness, and 12.81 percent covered by sand.

The forestation project has effectively conserved water as well as resisted desertification, according to the provincial forestry department. Zhangjiakou and Chengdu, two cities typically suffering from severe sandstorms in Hebei, have gained some resistance against the hazard.