Liao Xilong, member of the Central Military Commission, director of the PLA Environment Protection and Afforestation Committee and director of the PLA General Logistics Department, pointed out at the 10^th plenary meeting of the PLA Environment Protection and Afforestation Committee held in Beijing yesterday that doing a good job of environmental protection and ecological conservation is the intrinsic demand of implementing the scientific outlook on development and building a harmonious socialist society. The army must turn the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, Central Military Commission and Chairman Hu Jintao into common will and practical action of the whole army, and strive to bring the environmental protection and ecological conservation of the army to a new level.

　　According to the data provided by the plenary meeting, in 2006, the PLA conducted environment impact assessment (EIA) according to law and formally kicked off the building of ecological barracks. Steady progress has been made in key pollution control and ecological conservation projects. By the end of 2006, more than 400 water pollution control projects were completed and 1.5 million mu of " barren hill, wasteland and barren beach" in the military control area have been harnessed. In 2006, the PLA also sent its troops to participate in or support civilians' afforesting efforts in their stationed areas, with a total afforestation area amounting to one million mu . Besides, the PLA also made efforts to build up its capability of environmental safety supervision and control. Substantial achievements have also been made in the exchanges and cooperation with the armed forces of other countries in the environmental protection field.

　　By Yang Chunjiang and Fan Juwei

　　(Mar. 22, PLA Daily)