On February 23, 2009, the first working meeting of Ecological and Environmental Group of the Expert Advisory Group of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was held in Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The purposes of the working meeting were to preliminarily determine the working emphases, working orientations and future developing trend of the Ecological and Environmental Group in this year and next year based on the ecological and environmental problems in Xinjiang.

　　Mr. Chen Qi, the Vice Director of Xinjiang Scientific and Technological Bureau, emphasized to make the brainpower effects of the Expert Advisory Group into full play, further organize and arouse the vast expert advisors in both Xinjiang and other provinces and autonomous regions to select and lucubrate the key research projects based on the important issues in social and economic development of the autonomous region and the overall working situation of the Party Committee and People’s Government of the autonomous region, and suggest ways and means for the scientific and democratic decision-making.

　　At the working meeting, the members of Ecological and Environmental Group of the Expert Advisory Group of the autonomous region suggested many ways and means about the ecological and environmental problems in Xinjiang in aspects of utilization of water resources and ecological and environmental improvement in the Yili River Basin, ecological and environmental situation in the lower reaches of the Tarim River Basin, wind-blown sand control in Hotan Prefecture, reconstruction of the old urban area of Kashgar City, study on the urban features of Urumqi City, prevention and reduction of natural disasters in Xinjiang, climate modification, how to reply climate change, how to protect cultivated land while developing the forest-fruit industry around the Tarim Basin in south Xinjiang, sustainable development of cotton planting, income and efficiency increase of the vast farmers and herdsmen, etc.

　　The Ecological and Environmental Group of the Expert Advisory Group of the autonomous region is dependent on Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Professor Song Yudong, the former director of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, is the leader of the group.

　　The experts of Ecological and Environmental Group suggest actively the ways and means all along based on their precise working attitude and practical and realistic energy, and they have presented many advisory suggestions for the Party Committee and People’s Government of the autonomous region and provided the effective intellective support for the social and economic sustainable development in Xinjiang.