Beijing will spend a total of 12 billion yuan (about US$1.537 billion) in 2007 to improve environmental conditions, an official said on Wednesday.

Lu Jianjun, head of Beijing 2008 Environmental Construction Headquarters Office gave the figure at a press conference. He said the money will be put in by the governments at the municipal and district levels. In addition non-governmental organizations and enterprises are expected to make their efforts in this regard.

In 2007, a year of "decisive battle" in the preparatory work for the 208 Olympic Games, as officials put it, Beijing will continue to endeavor for environmental renovation in urban and rural areas, based on the people-oriented concept, Lu said. The task will focus on major streets and key areas around the Olympic projects.

In 2006, the city removed tens of "villages within the city," and the newly afforested area totaled 1.5 million square meters.