According to a source in the Central Military Commission, a large regiment of the People’s Liberation Army, in addition to the nation’s armed police force, have been withdrawn from protecting the northern border in order to plant trees in China to compensate the global carbon footprint.
The goal is to increase forest coverage to 23% of total landmass by 2020. The current forested area stands at 21%, according to China Daily.
In a meeting last week, Zhang Jianlong, head of the State Forestry Administration, said that China aims to grow at least 6.66 million hectares of new forest this year alone.
Around 208 million hectares are now forested in China. Since 2013, 33.8 million hectares have been added in the past 5 years.
To benefit citizens who are plagued by air pollution in Beijing, the Hebei provincewill increase its total forest coverage to 35% by the end of 2020. The bulk of the province’s troops will also be pulled back from the front lines to assist in reforestation efforts.
Much of the smog that blankets northern China in cold seasons is sourced from Beijing. Three years ago, the Chinese city announced a plan to lay off 300,000 soldiers and PLA personnel.
They have since been re-assigned to non-military positions, which include planting trees and “revving up key state-level infrastructure projects,” reports the Asia Times.
Truth Theory.com / Crickey Conservation Society Blog Site News 2018.