NE China city encourages online afforestation donations

  Citizens of Shenyang in northeast China's Liaoning Province are being encouraged to make donations toward local afforestation programs through a new online system. Launched by the China Green Carbon Foundation and the State Forestry Administration on Tuesday, one day before China's National Arbor Day, the system allows donors to download e-certificates with their names and the details of how and where their money will be spent. It is accessible through www.thjj.org. According to the State Forestry Administration, a total of 66.5 billion trees had been planted by the end of 2013 since the Chinese government called on its people to plant three to five trees every year in 1981. Ye Shu, deputy director of Shenyang's forestry bureau, said online trading has become a global trend as transportation and accommodation of volunteers is expensive and, ironically, adds to the carbon footprints of tree-planting activities.