At the construction site of the Zhongwei section of the west-east gas project in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, workers are sowing grass seeds on the earth over which they have just buried a gas pipeline.

Along the 13.6-km Zhongwei section is a large range of a forestbelt for sand control. Though it's inevitable to destroy some vegetation when laying pipelines, Jiang Bingyuan, an official in charge of the construction of the section, said they are trying tokeep the damage to the minimum.

The forest has special meaning to the local residents living atthe edge of the Tengger Desert. In 1994, the forest was awarded asone of the world's 500 best environmentally protected areas by theUnited Nations. It also ensured the safe operation for more than 40 years of China's first railway in desert, linking Baotou and Lanzhou cities.

The west-east gas project, with total investment of 140 billionyuan, is the longest and most complicated pipeline project in China's history. Starting construction in 2002, the project is expected to make full utilization of the rich resources in the western part of the country and ease energy-hunger in the economically developed eastern part.

At the Zhongwei section, the constructors have restored grass area of 483,000 square meters and planted 322,000 trees in the areas where the pipeline extends.

"We take care of the forestry just like we take care of our eyes," said Wang Lianyu, project manager of the section.

To minimize damage to the vegetation, the workers kept their construction area within a 18-meter-wide line, rather than extending to the designed 28 meters wide.

In the meantime, all workers who entered the construction site could receive training on vegetation protection and fire prevention knowledge. All the sewage and waste are transported outside the construction site.

Source: Xinhua