Malaysian technology to turn palm tree leaves into eco-friendly matting has helped Beijing's efforts to cut down on the dust that floats across the city.

The leaves make a mattress, called an "ecomat," which covers the soil and is believed to be an effective way to hold water and soil.

Authorities in the two countries yesterday signed a memo pledging improved promotion and application of the environment-friendly technology.

"Use of the ecomat has greatly raised the chance of plants surviving in dry areas," said Liu Tuo, director of the General Office of Combating Desertification under the State Forestry Administration.

New materials and technologies that promote sustainable development should be encouraged, Liu added.

Introduced in 2002, the first batch of 12,000 square metres of ecomat was sent to Tongzhou, a suburb in the east of Beijing, for experimental use. The deal was done between Beijing Municipal Bureau of Parks and its counterpart the Malaysian Palm Oil Board.

"Four years of successful experience in Tongzhou tells us it's time to use it more widely," said Wang Xiaoping, director general of Beijing International Project Administration of the Municipal Forestry Bureau.

Wang said the ecomat combats soil erosion, improves water conservancy and raises organic elements in soil.

In total 1.26 million square metres of ecomat have been used in Beijing, north China's Hebei Province, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northwest China's Gansu Province and the Tibet Autonomous Region in the past four years, in both urban and desert areas.

"There is sufficient evidence to show that performance of the ecomat is stable. It is also biodegradable," said Wang.

Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, the Minister of Malaysian Plantation Industries and Commodities, said Malaysia would continue to promote co-operation and consider it a contribution to help Beijing regain the green lands it has lost to desertification in recent years.

However, price may be a barrier.

According to Wang, the average cost for laying out one square metre of ecomat is about four to five yuan (US$50 to 60 cents).

The most costly form of desertification treatment currently costs no more than 3 yuan (US$37?cents) per square meter.

"We may not be able to afford it in deserts, however for the urban landscaping industry, the cost is acceptable," said Wang.

Palm oil export is a pillar industry in Malaysia, with China taking the lead in purchasing the oil. Statistics show some 1.14 million tons of palm oil were exported to China in the first five month this year.

Ecomat technology means that left over palm leaves no longer go to waste.

(China Daily July 25, 2006)