Shanghai will make a push to enlarge its green belt areas by 10 million square meters, or 314 percent of the existing green area, by the end of this year, the Xinmin Evening News has reported.

Half of the new green space will come from new public greeneries, officials said during a meeting of the city's Greenery Administrative Bureau.

Shanghai's greenery coverage rate will top 38 percent, or 12.5 square meters per capita, officials said.

Greenery projects will include building green zones covering about 65,000 hectares near Expo venues and the Outer Ring Road. The green belt along the Outer Ring Road can reduce noise pollution and dust, as well as reduce carbon dioxide in the air.

Moreover, greenery authorities will renovate the 46,000-square-meter wetland in Dongtan on Chongming Island, a national conservation area where migrant birds often stay during the winter.

The renovation of 10 parks and green areas in 260 residential complexes is also on the bureau's agenda, the report said.

Only 22 percent of the project was finished as of the end of last year although it is set for completion by 2009.

Vice mayor Shen Jun said that the relocation of residents has hindered progress.

"As far as I know, some districts have changed the green route to cater to nearby residents,'' Shen said.

He urged the districts of Pudong, Baoshan, Nanhui, Putuo, Jiading, Changning, Minhang and Xuhui to be more efficient.

(Source: www.shanghai.gov.cn )