Shanxi visit report 1^st July to 4^th July 2012

We had 6 persons taking part in this visit to Shanxi including Dr. Kwan and his son Geoffrey, Dr. Chong and his family, Grace and Edward and Mr. Chan Siu Kin

We travelled from Hong Kong at 6 am 1^st July to Sheklau through Shenzhen and reaching Tai Yuan airport at about 12 noon. It took about 4 more hours before we arrived at around 5:30pm.

We were warmly welcome by Mr.解, previous party secretary of the town (靈泉鎮) now promoted to the deputy head of the Sheklau County. He again showed his support of the local government of our foundation’s work in ShekLau. We stayed in the guest house in ShekLau town center which had some improvement in its room facilities supplying at least hot water more constantly now.

The next day we visited Siu Ching village( 四江村), our plantation site early at 8 am. As the path to zone 22 was destroyed by rainfall we had to walk through area 1, 2, 3 to try to reach zone 22. We were accompanied by ManBen and Mr. Cheung Kin Kam the previous village head to walk up the plantation site. The zone 1,2,3,4 planted since 2007 were growing well. (Pictures 1,2,3,4) The area that we set up a small monument for marking the donation by Mr. Shih Wing Ching had formed a small forest and growing to height of 4^th floor building.

Picture 1 Area 3 planted 2007

Picture 2, path at area 1

Picture 3 Area 4 (2007)

Picture 4 Area 4

Trees could be seen with naked eyes in area 6 and in area 10, small trees can be seen with binocular from opposite side though covered very much by high grass. The area where students planted their trees had grown up well too forming very neat evergreen zone at roadside near area 7 which very well at a slope. (Pictures 5, 6, 7)

Picture 5 Area 6 (2008).

P. 6 Area 10

Picture 7 Area 7

The weather was very hot soon after the sun went up higher. Dr. Chong had to

stop himself after two hours walk up to area 19,20 and area 12 for fear of heat stroke.

Dr. Kwan managed to walk to area opposite area 21 and stop for the heat and tiredness. Mr. Cheung managed to walk to area 13 and then claimed down area 22 by himself. He promised to send me photos that he would take in close range of the tree trenches condition in zone 22 and send me afterward. ( pictures 8, 9,10,11,12 )

Picture 8

Area 18, 19, 20

Picture 9 Area 12 &13 (2010)

Picture 10 a & b Area 12 (2010) close up view

Picture 11 Area 22 (2011)

Picture .12 a & b Area 22 (2011) Trees within tree trenches

We had to walk back through the original path at about 10:30 am and returning to the home of Mr. Cheung at about 12:30 noon. We were hosted for the lunch and took rest to avoid the strong sunshine at noon till about 3 pm.

We took our afternoon trip to area 6 village where our first spring eye emerged in 2009. We were excited to find another small spring water eye in opposite slope of our original water spring. That proved the water table had risen to allow more and more spring eyes to be found later. The original spring water eye also grows and its flow now could be seen for more than 50 meters from its origin i.e. about half the distance from the outside entrance where a further 50 meters flow will connect the flow with a main small stream flowing in the valley which will flow into Yellow River through 屈產河, the tributary of Yellow River flowing through Si Chin village.(Picture 13,14,15)

That growing of the first spring eye and emergence of the second spring eye confirmed the water storing function of the tree trenches and the water retaining power of the plantation work done in previous years. It is a good sign for consolidating our plantation site with further expansion to make the catch water zone bigger.

Picture 13, new second spring eye found

Picture 14 Growing flow of first spring eye

Picture 15 close up view of water

At night time after dinner, we were brought by ManBen to visit the ShekLau new town square—the Moon Night square. It was a new large area just built last year and with an area of the size of two to three football fields. Residents were gathering there after dinner for rest and social activities such as folk dancing and leisure exercise.

There was a water fountain as well and children were playing rollers and toy cars around. It was a big improvement of ShekLau people’s leisure activities with that opening of the square. We felt happy to see improvement of living condition there also.

The next day (3^rd July, we paid a visit to the bridge connecting Shanxi with Xanxi crossing the Yellow River. We passed by a village school headed by the relative of ManBen and took the advantage to give a brief environmental education talk to the primary school students before they left their boarding for their summer holiday.

We returned to TaiYuan in the afternoon and took dinner with Mr.Kwong Lap Kwong, the deputy head of the TaiYaun Forestry Research Institute to discuss the setting up of a small climate recorder machine in ShekLau to document micro environmental change after our plantation. Actually we had seen again a hare and two pheasants while we inspected our plantation site.

In final day of our trip on 4^th July, we visited Wong Man Ling the first experimental site of our foundation in Shanxi set up late Dr.Chia. We were happy to note that the trees were still growing well there but many side branches were being cut. We found a new village head ( Mr. Fong) was elected and we met him personally.

Dr.Kwan and Mr.Chan walked up to inspect the trees while Dr. Chong talked with the new village head. We were informed that the American students visited Wong Man Ling again last summer and we stressed the importance of keeping the trees planted for attraction. Grace Ling also advised them to develop the ecological tour as the villagers were getting old and agriculture would only bring very limited return for them. The village head agreed and would explore that possibility later.

Dr.Kwan reported also seeing hare and pheasants and lots of insects and butterflies in our plantation site. We left without taking lunch in the villagers’ home. In the afternoon we went for the Shanxi museum before we left for the airport at 4 :40 pm.

We were unfortunate to have a flight delay and finally arrive Shenzhen about 12 midnight.

Volunteer： CHONG Hou Ming

Team Leader of the Shanxi Project

2 September 2012

山西省植林工作報告

2011年10月山西省石樓縣四江村  第21植林區視察概况

植林組義工鄧錫英醫生伉儷及羅鄭琗瑾女士，於2011年10月26至29日到山西省、石樓縣、四江村視察，以跟進在該區的植林計劃。

詳情如下：

1. 第21區的植林計劃，有139畝荒地，當地承包隊目於2011年中聘請村民進行樹坑挖掘工作。樹坑情况請參閱以下圖片：

2. 今年的種植季節剛好在我們於2011年10月27日抵達四江村時開始，翻越山路到達植林區時；可見到樹苗已陸續運抵，路旁也堆放了稻殼，稻殼將用於與表土混和後，再回填到剛種植樹苗的樹坑中。樹苗及稻殼見以下圖片：

3. 經細心挑選及修剪的樹苗在種植後，會有較佳的生長效果。樹苗分兩批於早上及午後送往植林區； 此舉可避免樹苗受烈日暴曬，確保樹苗在種植時保持在最佳狀態。請參閱以下圖片：

4. 植林區由督導員監察，確保工序達到標準要求。

5. 第21植林區有小部分面積因鋪設輸送天然氣的管道而受破壞，承包隊目應允在種植樹苗前修補，確保植樹工作順利進行。 受破壞之情況見以下圖片：

6. 最近接到四江村植林承包隊目的報告：樹苗已於2011年11月尾完成種植，已種的樹苗總數為30,580株。樹種包括：刺槐、杏、 山桃、側柏、文冠果、火炬。但在新種植樹苗的周圍用松樹皮覆蓋的工序要留待明年春季才能展開，原因是近日植林區降雨量增加及降雪造成山坡濕滑，承包隊目為了民工的安全，決定延遲此項工序。

2012年的工作展望：

植林組義工將於2012年春季，繼續跟進松樹皮覆蓋的工作，在天氣情况許可下，確保工作順利執行。

鑑於樹坑挖掘順利，樹苗經細心挑選及修剪，秋季雨量充足，加上種植樹苗後期降雪，相信樹苗於明春能茁壯生長。

山西植林組：鄧錫英    羅鄭琗瑾

2011年12月15日

BRIEF PROGRESS REPORT ON SHANXI REFORESTATION

Inspection
Report on Area 21, Si Jiang Village, Shi Lou, Shanxi Province, China in
October, 2011 

An inspection trip was carried out by Dr. & Mrs. TANG and Mrs. Grace LO between 26^th and 29^th Oct., 2011, to follow up the progress of the reforestation program at Si Jiang Village, Shi Lou, Shanxi Province, China.

The details are as below: -

1. The reforestation program covers an  area of 139 acres at Area 21 of Si Jiang Village, Shi Lou,
Shanxi Province. Temporary workers  from the Village who were employed by our Contractor in the middle of 2011 dug all trenches for seedling planting. The trenches are shown in the photos below: -

2.  The planting of seedlings for this season had just started when we arrived at the Village on 27^th Oct., 2011.  As we climbed up the hilly path to the site, we saw that seedlings were being delivered on site, waiting to be planted soon.  Also, there were husks being piled up at the side of the path, to be mixed into the topsoil for refilling the trenches after planting of the seedlings.
These are shown in the photos below: -

3.
Seedlings had been carefully chosen and trimmed for better results.  Besides, all seedlings to be planted for the day were carried to the site in two groups, some in the morning and the rest after lunch.  This is to avoid leaving young seedlings being exposed to sun for too long so as to keep them in good shape for planting. Photos taken on site are shown below: -

4.  On the planting site, there was also a supervisor, to check and to make sure that all work was being carried out properly.

5. A small section of Area 21 had been damaged by the construction work of the local natural gas pipe. Our Contractor promised to repair all damaged trenches before seedlings were to be planted. The photo below shows the situation.

6.  We received reports from Si Jiang Village that all seedlings planting had been
completed at the end of Nov., 2011. A total of 30,580 nos. of mixed seedlings had been planted.  They included:   刺 槐， 杏， 山桃，側柏， 文冠果，火炬。 Pine bark was yet to be  applied around  all  newly planted seedlings in the coming  Spring time. The Contractor decided to postpone this procedure for the safety of the workers because the site  was very damp and  slippery due to the higher than the average rainfall this  Autumn and a heavy snowfall right after the planting  work.

7. The Outlook of the Program in the Year of 2012

Our Shanxi Reforestation Team will double check in the Spring of 2012 to make sure that pine bark will be applied as soon as the weather and workforce allow.

As tree trenches were dug properly, seedlings were carefully chosen, trimmed and planting work was carried out accordingly, together with higher than the average rainfall of this autumn, heavy snowfall right after completion of the planting work in Si Jiang area, we expect that  the young trees will
grow well in the coming Spring.

Reported by:  Mrs. Grace LO and Dr. Philip TANG,

Shanxi Reforestation Team,
Green Action Charity Foundation Limited

Date:  15 December, 2011

網站連結：http://news.sina.com.cn/c/sd/2011-08-10/083122966256.shtml

香港志愿者赴黄土高原植林涵水

Progress report of Shanxi project, July 2011, Green Action Charity Foundation:-

By Dr. Chong Hou Ming ( team head of Shanxi team)

Visit to ShiLou Shanxi (25th July to 27th July 2011)

Dr. Kwan Wing Kwong (Exco. of GCAF) , Dr..Chong Hou Ming( Team head of Shanxi project, GACF), Dr. Ling Yu Shih ,Mr. Joseph Chan, Miss LauXioHong, Edward Chong ( all are members of GACF), Mr. Eddy Ko and Ms Xiang( Reporter from Beijing New China Agency) went together to Sheklau on 25^th July, 2011.

On 26^th July, Dr.Kwan, Dr. Chong and Joseph Chan had walked through all 14 phase areas by the route of a newly made path with focus on new plantation tracking. The workers are digging tree trenches in area 18,19&22 donated by FTI foundation and planned to be finish work by mid August. The areas (area 10 and 12 donated by Mr.Shih Wing Ching Foundation) planted last years also inspected to have surviving trees in tree trenches. Dr.Ling and Ms. Xiang had walked through phase 1-4 areas. Area 3, the area donated by Mr. Shih Wing Ching in 2007, is now well occupied by tall trees about 30 feet high. The area 13 donated half by Crystal Group had also very good trees growing.. (see photos). The estimated survival rate in all areas is more than 90%.

New path for reaching area 21	Area 12 in center , area 13 and 22	Tall trees in area 3 ;

Tree trenches in area 22	Area 13 on top of mountain and area 12		Area 10 and 6

The soil in the tree trenches were wet after we dug out for few inches (see photos). Soil moisture and humus content were greatly improved by observation with significant change in texture and colors. The appearance of trees/small forest and condition of soil were much above our expectation and all in excellent condition. Ecology system was rebuilt with a hare, a wide cock, butterflies, ladybirds, different kinds of insects etc.

土质起了根本上的改变 Moist soil in trench	蝗虫乱舞给抓到New Insect	彩色虫虫在路边采花 Insect found

Mr. Joseph Chan gave a harmonica performance at SiJiang village.Villagers were actively involved not only being an audience but also as participants.

Performance from Mr. TC Chan	An excellent male singer	An excellent female singer

We also visited the water source “spring eye” nearby (photo) which was found in out plantation site since 2010. New plants were found as result of more water comes out from the mountain.

小泉眼形成的沼泽 Swamp formed	Spring eye 泉眼（泉城的第七十三泉）	石楼首次发现在黄土高原上长出芦苇

We organized two lectures on “New Village Reform”, “Human Resource Training in Village”, “The relationship betweenChinaand the World Economy” and “The continuity and future development of ShiLou county” delivered by Ms Lau and Dr. Ling and had discussions and dinner with government officials later on.

Lecture	Harmonica performance	Trees seen in WangWenLing from village side

************

We went to WangWenLing in YangQu. On 27^th July and inspected the previously planted trees. They were about the same as last year and can be seen from opposite mountain side with naked eyes.

At night,we had dinner with Mr. Kwong Lap Gong( Deputy head of the Tai Yuan Forestry Research Insititue) and discussed about all aspects of our plantation works. We hope we can have future scientific research support to help documentation of our work for further promotion of our effective plantation method in Losses Plateau.

2010年10月山西植林報告

最新情況簡報如下:—

一、2007年、2008年工程(共 635畝)保存好，部分桑樹被地鼠破壞現已全部補植。在第一期植林區中，由施永青先生捐贈(共 130 畝)的樹苗，現已生長成為15-20呎高的樹木，其存活率超過90%。(見圖1,圖2,同一地點拍攝)

二、2009年工程(共170畝, 其中 85畝是晶苑集團資助.)成活較好, 其成活比率為90%。(見圖3,圖4)

三、第三期第二階段450畝荒地上,整坑工作於10月初完成。(見圖5)

四、本年度植林區的管理,維護工作已僱用當地村民負責。其工作範圍包括防火、滅鼠、護林、簡單的樹木修護及小路維修保養等，另基金會亦捐資道路維修費用。

五、在山谷的第一區與第六區之間發現有一個水源,前只為一個小水窪地，但張村長發現今年開始已發展成一條小水流。 (見圖6 )

六、王文嶺植林區(共100 畝)樹木的成長，很多樹木都長得比人高,現仍存

的樹木約9000株,與上年度相比差距不多, 2005年於現仍存活率約

 50-60%. (見圖7 )

計劃

希望在石樓縣的植林,能繼續維持現行的進度, 加入新的幼苗種植 ,今年(2010)十月底，完成約450畝的植林工作。

                                                   莊厚明

                                               2010年10月12日

圖1  石樓                                      攝於 2007年

圖2  石樓                                   攝於2010年10月

圖3  石樓 2009年工程

圖4  石樓 2009年工程,可見小樹苗已長起來       攝於2010年

圖5  石樓450畝荒山,圖見部份己完成整坑工作   攝於2010年10月

圖6  張村長發現有泉水不斷流出          攝於2010年10月

圖7   王文嶺村的植林區                   攝於2010年10月

林木生長實況，同一拍攝點的對比相片：

地點：山西省  石樓縣  四江村

攝於2007年  完成整坑工程

攝於2008年      剛種下的小樹苗

攝於2009年初     小樹苗長起來了

攝於2009年底     樹苗在成長

攝於2010年底    已經長成小樹林，約4米至5米高,

2010年7月山西植林考察報告

7月26日早上,我們到達石樓縣四江村，了解植林情況,張村長說由於2-3個月沒有下雨，已有1/3的玉米乾死，以前必經的小溪亦已斷流。我們先到一期三區施永青先生捐助的刺槐林區，發覺樹已長高至3.5至4米，土地覆蓋良好。再參觀一期其他植林區，刺槐和國槐皆生長良好，其他榆樹、杏樹、紫穗槐、柏樹皆生長不錯，但桑樹和棗樹則生長情況不理想。整體存活率在八成以上。

上山的泥路有明顯的雨水沖刷坑，村長提出希望基金會能資助修一水泥路，羅太已即場反對(因上面還有莊稼) ，她提出可考慮每20–30米掘一引水坑道並在外圍種植紫穗槐擋水。

在山頂遙望第2期6區的陡峭荒山，於2008年秋以水平溝所種的樹(以刺槐和紫穗槐為主) ，亦已長起來，肉眼可見。第二期之7,8,9區，樹木生長情況亦良好，二期整體存活率在8至9成間。

在山頂遠望三期的13區已打坑，地較平，雖然已植樹，但距離太遠看不到。管理員說長在水平溝的杏樹長得不好，長在水平溝之間的側柏則99%存活。三期12區見有一工人在掘坑，但因太乾旱，即將停止掘坑工作。三期10區的工程將在完成12區後才發展。

三期12，13區後面就是剛租下的第四期22,23區，據村長說，山內有泉眼，仍有水流出，但因天氣太熱，我們無法前往。下次莊醫生去石樓時，必須去考察，若真有泉眼，羅太建議基金會應在泉眼四週好好用心種樹 (可長年生長而無經濟價值的林木）。

7月28日一早我們便到王文嶺，在村長和村民陪同下考察林場。據村長說，現仍存的樹木約9000株(8000株小樹，1000株大樹) ，過去一年超過9成存活下來，整體存活率約6成。

刺槐林仍是長得最好的，約3--4米高，楊樹亦長高至2米。臭樁樹亦長得不錯，有明顯自然繁殖的現象。其它樹種有紫穗槐、桑樹、梨樹，油松和側柏生長情況尚可。大部份的桃樹有病毒感染的跡象，但亦有結桃子。野草很高，對較矮小的樹木不知有沒有影響？ 有村民於09年秋在我們旁邊的土地以傳統小坑植樹，不是死去，便是很弱。

鄧錫英撰稿

山西四月行日誌 (2010年4月3日至6日)

第一天

由尖沙咀乘坐跨境巴士到深圳機場直飛太原。關永光醫生，葉榮根先生，高志豪先生，莊厚明醫生及太太和兒子，相約在太原機場集合。是日下午五時飛機降落在太原機場,當大家下機後立即乘車出發前往石樓，在高速公路上的休息站，約用了大概半小時進食晚飯，終於在晚上九時半到達了石樓。

第二天

我們花了整個早上及下午徒步巡視了在四江村的植林區。在第一期植林區中，由施永青先生捐贈的樹苗，現已生長成為12-15呎高的樹木 (圖1)。

雖然在寒冬中樹木落掉了樹葉，但因這些樹坑是用松樹皮覆蓋，泥土即使挖深了數寸，仍然保持了濕潤 (圖2)。

因在每個樹坑中所種的3棵樹苗大都生存，故其存活率應超過90%。

我們沿着山路檢視了其他植林區域。而在去年春天在170畝耕地上所種植的樹苗,因路途太遠而未能徒步前往，故我們只好在山頂上遠眺瞭望(圖3) 。

我們亦見到根據當地農林部研究院長鄺先生建議方法種植的20畝耕地植苗樹坑( 一半是晶苑集團資助  ) (圖4左方的葉子形狀田地)。

依照這季的樹苗成長，在樹坑中生長的樹苗，正常是看不到有樹葉發芽現象的。但幸宜在樹皮底下都是存在綠色的生機(圖5)

文斌報告了一個令人憂慮的問題，在上年度補種的苗有8000棵，很不幸的其中有2000棵桑樹的根部，被土老鼠咬壞因而枯萎(圖 6)。

原因是大量種植桑樹及其甜根部，所以吸引了這批不速之客到來進行破壞。我們立即和有關人士討論如何能盡早解決這嚴重問題，村長的建議是用胡蘿蔔混入毒藥滅殺這些地下老鼠。但我們很希望能找出最佳的方法，採用有效的根治去控制鼠患及保護植林區的樹木成長。土老鼠的天敵如貓頭鷹亦可考慮。

在第六段荒地上所種植的樹苗生長良好，令人喜出望外。文斌告知除了在一小部份地區的斜坡上所種的樹苗，需要補苗外，其他的存活率超過85%。在未來一年部份補苗的成長仍需在觀察中。在第一期及第二期植苗240000棵，只需補苗20000棵。現在第三期第一階段在170畝耕地植苗35600棵( 一半是晶苑集團資助  ) ，成長存活率有待觀察。去年冬天下雪後，雪水濕潤了樹坑，這是一個好消息。

我們被村長邀請到他家中午膳後，關永光醫生，葉榮根先生和我一齊攀登上第六區，檢視了該區的植苗生長，情況和去年相約，只是未曾發葉(圖 7)。

凌友詩和高志豪同時去了解一間由當地政府所建的小房屋(圖8)，

內有水井準備供應村民家，後因財政不足而停止連接水管，村民要走很遠路來打水。凌友詩決定個人經基金會捐獻約人民幣七千元資助村民完成工程。隨後由當地政府安排我們到訪了當地建築中的老人院及孤兒院，希望我們了解現有的狀況(圖9)。

文斌很強調，他們不是要求我們施出援手而加重基金會的財政壓力，而是希望我們能協助他們把訊息傳遞給有興趣及有能力的組織。支持他們重建老人院及孤兒院的計劃。整個計劃的支出預算為七百萬人民幣，而政府已批出資助金五百萬人民幣，餘數則希望能有善心人士或組織出資完成計劃。我們口頭上應允會盡力幫他們將訊息傳遞，但不保証會有任何結果。

當天晚上，當地政府鎮書記和林業部等各要員宴請了我們一起共進晚餐。我們在席上獲當地政府再承諾會全力支援當地植林的工作。

第三天

早上在石樓賓館舉行了第三期第二階段450畝荒地上植樹的簽約儀式，出席包括了當地的黨委書記，林業部負責人等各要員。合約是以力行植林慈善基金會(GACF) 和林業部簽署，文斌預算計劃在今年內會種植樹苗58500棵(圖10)。

其後我們前往連接山西與陝西的黃河大橋參觀(圖11)。當地業林部已向政府有關部門在這裡申請以力行植林慈善基金會形式去種植生態林，但仍有待批准。我們遠眺了黃河附近已有種植30年的植林區(圖12)。

我們和當地官員一起午膳，多謝他們的熱誠款待及對我們基金會植林的工作無限量的支持。

我們於下午2:30離開，經過四個多鐘頭的車程回到太原。我們相約了鄺立剛先生一起晚餐，在席上大家討論了我們在山西植林的工作。他對我們植苗存活率比其他地方種植為高，給予我們很高的評價。這可能是本地投放的種植資源有限所引致，但據聞這方面已有改善，例如每畝投入的金額已由80元人民幣增加至200元人民幣。我們亦提出很樂意在適當場合或時機，與有關人士互相交流種植樹木的經驗，希望對山西植林作出有效用的參考。

第四天

早上八時許出發，我們約在九時半到達王文嶺。關永光醫生和葉榮根先生登上了山峄上，檢視了王文嶺樹木的成長，與上年度相比差距不多。莊厚明醫生則負責到訪當地村委，討論種植及管理問題。根據村委的報告，莊醫生確認他們作出努力不懈,使樹木生長狀況良好。在今年冬季種植樹苗的有關計劃，將會在本年度8月份作出預算。此外，莊厚明醫生向村委提出聖母大學(University of Notre Dame)的大學生會在本年度5月尾左右到訪王文嶺，希望能體驗當地的生活。村民們都很高興接受這批外國大學生在他們家中渡宿一宵，同時希望藉此訪問作出中西文化交流的好機會。當我們在村民家中吃過午飯後，約在中午12:30啟程到太原機場，正式結束了這次的行程。

Shanxi April Visit Diary (3^rd to 6^th April 2010)

Day 1 Travel to ShekLau

     Dr. Kwan, Albert Yip, Eddy Ko and Dr. Chong’s family met together in Taiyuan Airport and travelled directly from TaiYuan airport to ShekLau at 5pm . The group arrived at ShekLau at about 9:30 pm. We took our dinner for half an hour at highway rest station.

Day 2 Inspection in ShekLau

     We walked up the plantation areas in Four River village in the morning and afternoon. The phase I area, especially the area donated by Mr. Shih, is now well occupied by tall trees about 15- 20 feet high (photo 1). Although the trees had shred their leaves in winter, the soil in the tree trenches were wet (photo 2) after removing the pine tree bark cover and dug out for few inches. The estimated survival rate in that area is more than 90 % as all three trees in on trench grew.

     Other parts of the plantation site were inspected when we walked up to the top of the mountain (photo 3). Though we could not walk up to the farthest site which is the 170 acres of land planted in last spring, we could see with nude eyes the tree trenches dug and the area that represent the 20 acres of land( photo 4) planted with Mr. Kwong’s method (Deputy head of the local forestry research institute). There were no leaves budding up at that season yet but the green stem underneath the tree bark had shown surviving trees.( photo 5)

     One worrying discovery is that ManBen had reported an overall 8000 sapling replacement plantation last year in which 2000 young trees were damaged by a kind of underground rat (photo 6) which ate the sweet root of mulberry(桑树). It is a new threat that never met before as there were no such trees in that amount before to attract the rats. We had discussed the ways of treating this problem promptly and poison mixed in carrot to kill the rats was suggested to the local village head and will be tried. We need further investigation of an effective measures to control the rats! [one alternative was the introduction of predator e.g. owl]

     The trees planted in the bare land in area 6 also grew well out of the expectation of Man Ben though there was a small area of slope which didn’t do well and needs supplementary plantation. The overall survival rate as reported by Man Ben is still more than 85% for all the trees planted.

Some trees planted supplementary still need observation for their survival in this coming year but the total supplementary trees planted so far in past years only amount to 20,000 compared with the 240,000 trees planted in phase I &II. The 35,660 trees planted in 170 acres of land in stage I of phase 3 ( Half funded by Crystal Group)  needed monitoring this year for survival but the moderate snowing last winter is good for water supply when the snow melt in the tree trenches.

     We took dumpling lunch provided by village head in his home and Dr. Kwan, Albert and Dr. Chong climbed up and inspected area 6, the saplings are about the same as last August though there are no leaves now.(Photo 7) Grace Ling and Eddy visited a water supply house (Photo 8) partially finished by the government in which a well was dug to get water supply. There was however inadequate money to finish water pipe line connection to each house of the village and villagers needed to get water daily from it walking long distance. Grace Ling decided to donate the cost about RMB 7000 through the foundation to help finish the pipeline construction. We then all left for the elderly home and youth centre building planned by local home affair bureau to understand their suggestion (Photo 9). Man Ben stressed that they don’t want to pressurise our foundation on the financially support to the three planned & newly built blocks for caring of poorly old villagers and orphans. They just hoped that we can bring their needs to those interest and capable groups to support their building block which is now in progress of construction and further needs of a RMB 7 million support while 5 million was financed by the government already. We agreed to try our best as far as possible without any guarantee to any definite results.

     At evening we were invited by the local home affair bureau (民政局) officials for dinner which were attended by local forestry department head and local county head. We were once again promised by full support from the local government about the plantation work of our foundation.

Day 3 Formal Ceremory for Signing Contract

Early morning we had a formal ceremony in the conference room of the ShekLau Guest House to sign up the phase III stage 2 plantation work of the 450 acres of bare land. It was attended by the local forestry heads including the party secretary and forestry department head. The contract was signed by the GACF and the local forestry department with Man Ben to plant the 58,500 trees this year. (photo 10)

We played a short visit to the yellow river where a bridge is now being built to connect Shanxi and Shaanxi (photo 11). The local forestry department had applied a project for plantation work there using the plantation method by the Green Action Charity Foundation but is still pending for approval. We also inspected a distant local forest nearby the yellow river, which were planted for more than 30 years (photo 12). We had lunch with the local county head whom had once again showed his full support to our foundation’s work and his hospitality.

     We left for TaiYuan at about 2:30 pm and arrived after 4 hours of travel.

     We had dinner with Mr. Kwong Lap Gong and discussed about all aspects of our plantation works which he had appraisals on our survival rate compared with local methods which had a very low input per acres. There was however said to have a change to higher input per acres these years from RMB 80 to RMB 200 and we agreed that we might need to make some suggestions according to our experience to some relevant officers at appropriate time afterward. The main theme will be to improve information exchange and hopefully to give useful reference for a better plantation results in Shanxi.

Day 4, Visit to Wang Wen Ling Site

We travelled early 8:00am to Wong Man Ling and arrived there at about 9:30am. Dr. Kwan and Albert Yip climbed up the mountain to inspect the existing trees and reported a similar survival of trees compared with last year.

     Dr. Chong had an interview with the local villagers and village head to discuss the plantation management which is now under the village committee and confirmed their continued effort to maintain the trees in good condition.

     There is no more need so far for management of the planted trees and winter management cost will be planed in August. Dr. Chong also discussed the end of May visit by the university students from University of Notre Dame. The villagers were very glad to be the guest home for the foreign students for one night. We all hoped that the visit can be a good time for interflow of the east and west. We had lunch with the local villager in his home and then left at 12:30 noon to the airport.

荘医生你好：
今秋我县雨水较多，墒情较好，目前正是植树的有利时机，随着我县今秋造林工作的全面展开，我于10月24日也开始今年工程的下苗工作。但由于最近工作较忙，一直没有电邮给你们。现将近期工作及所需费用报告如下：
一、苗木筹备情况
1、根据以往几年树木成活及生长情况，我主要选择槐树、火炬、椿树，但今年椿树苗没有合格苗，只选了火炬、槐树。
2、根据当地连年少雨的特点，今年选择即耐旱，又是一种能源产品的文冠果。同时选择少量的仁用杏，具体情况是：
①刺槐：18000株×0.3元/株=5400元
②文冠果：9000株×3元/株=27000元
③火炬：4000株×4元/株=16000元
④仁用杏：2000株×2元/株=4000元
共计52400元
二、20亩地按邝院长的方法植树，目前已基本完工，共需费用18880元。

三、其它费用10000万元：（1）给李慧资助款4000元；（2）办理土地证2000元；（3）工程碑简介4000元。
以上共计费用81280元。
今秋我把前二年植树地块全部检查，对苗木不足的地块进行了补栽，整个植树覆盖松树皮估计11月中旬全部完工，请基金会的朋友们放心。

石楼县林业局 文斌
二00九年十一月二日

附：近期工程图片