Virtual money encourages people to plant trees

Children show passbooks of "Green Bank." [photo：the Beijing Times]

(ECNS) -- "Green coins," a type of virtual money, on a website launched by a rural district in Beijing are being awarded to citizens who plant trees in person or donate money to the green cause, a move to encourage citizens to make efforts in improving the city's environment.

Mentougou district, a mostly rural district in western Beijing, has called on citizens to register on the website and become a customer of the virtual bank.

After paying 20 yuan ($3.21), a customer can plant a tree provided by the bank in the tree planting base and get 200 "green coins."

Customers also can donate money, which will be used for planting and saving trees. Ten "green coins" will be rewarded after one yuan is donated.

"Green coins" can be traded for tickets to scenic spots in the district.

Han Zirong, district Party chief, said the "green bank" is a platform integrated into citizens' daily life, as people usually plant trees only during festivals such as National Arbor Day.

A tracking system will be established to help each planter know where the tree he planted or donated is and how it is growing.

The "green bank" also allows people to plant memorial trees for births, marriages, or opening businesses.

Gao Lianfa, head of the district's landscape and green construction bureau, said he is confident about meeting the target of a 43 percent forest coverage rate by 2015.