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三北防护林 (sanbei fanghulin)

Sanbei Shelter-Forest

An abbreviation for the shelter-forest in northern, northwestern and northeastern China. Known as China's "Great Green Wall", the shelter forest is a grand ecological project. With a total area of more than 4 million kilometers and covering 42.2 percent of the country's inland area, the forest belt spans 13 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. Launched in 1978, the building of the Green Wall will take 73 years till 2050. The project, when completed, will effectively curb desertification and soil erosion and greatly improve the ecological environment in these regions.

(China Daily 09/09/2008 page8)