2.1 Forest Resources
2.2 Afforestation and Greening
2.3 Development of Ecological Forestry Programmes
2.4 Forest Protection
2.5 Conservation of Biodiversity of Forests and Wetlands
2.6 Demand, Supply and Trade of Forest Products
2.7 Forest Products Industry
2.8 Development and Utilization of Non-wood Forest Products
2.9 Woody Energy and Fuelwood
2.10 Services provided by forests
2.11 Forestry Science, Technology and Education
2.12 Forestry Institutions and Forestry Policies
2.1.1 The Status Quo of Forest Resources
2.1.2 Development Trend of Forest Resources
The Chinese government attaches great importance to forest resource management. Four nation-wide forest resource inventories were carried out between 1949 and 1993. The last resource inventory was completed between 1989 and 1993. During the Fourth National Forest Resources Inventory, a total of 227,244 ground sample plots were surveyed and another 106,320 sample plots were studied through interpretation by satellite images and aerial photos. Resource inventories were carried out throughout the country except the large stretches of deserts, Gobi, pasture, and high mountains above the timber line. The total area surveyed were 5.7805 million square kilometers, accounting for 61.2% of the country's total land area. Some 15,000 people participated the Fourth National Forest Resources Inventory, the State allocated special funds for this undertaking, and local governments and forestry authorities rendered great support in all aspects of man power, material supply and financial assistance which guaranteed the reliability and authority of the inventory findings.
The findings of the Fourth National Forest Resources Inventory (1989-1993) published by the Ministry of Forestry in 1994 reveal that out of China's total area of 960.2716 million hectares, land for forestry use was 262.8885 million hectares (27.38%). The total actual forest area was 133.7035 million hectares with a forest cover of 13.92%. Of all China's forest resources, the total growing stock in China was 11.736 billion cubic meters and the growing stock in forests was 10.137 billion cubic meters.
2.1.1.1 Land Resource for Forestry
Of China's total 256.774 million hectares of land available for forestry (excluding the forest resources of Taiwan Province and that beyond Tibet control line, the same situation hereinafter), 128.5278 million hectares or 50.06% are forested land, 18.0257 million hectares or 7.02% open woodland, 29.7063 million hectares or 1.57% shrub land, 7.1383 million hectares or 2.78% young plantations, 0.1149 million hectares or 0.04% nursery, and 73.261 million hectares or 28.53% wild land.
Table 1 - Land Area by Category Unit: million hectares
|
Category
|
Forest land |
of which: Economic forest land |
of which: Bamboo forest land |
|||
|
Area |
% |
Area |
% |
Area |
% |
|
|
State Ownership |
58.1986 |
45.28 |
1.6035 |
9.96 |
0.2626 |
6.93 |
|
Collective Ownership |
70.3292 |
54.72 |
14.4953 |
90.04 |
3.5282 |
93.07 |
|
Total |
128.5278 |
100 |
16.0988 |
100 |
3.7908 |
100 |
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1994.
Of the Forested land area, 108.6382 million hectares or 84.52% are natural forests, 16.0988 million hectares or 12.53% are economic forests, and 3.7908 million hectares or 2.95% bamboo forests (see Table 1).
Of the wild land (73.2597 million ha), 63.0253 million hectares or 86.03% are to be afforested, 2.7568 million hectares or 3.76% are the logged areas, 0.9128 million hectares or 1.25% the burnt-over area, and 6.5661 million hectares or 8.96% desertified wasteland suitable for forestry purposes.
2.1.1.2 Forest Tree Resources
The total standing stock volume in China is 10,735.6532 million cubic meters (excluding the forest resources of Taiwan Province and that beyond Tibet control line), of which 9,087.1671 million cubic meters or 84.64% are stock volume in forests, 544.9017 million cubic meters or 5.08% are stock volume in open woodland, 771.4424 million cubic meters or 7.19% are stock volume of single trees, and 332.142 million cubic meters or 3.09% are stock volume of "four-side" plantings.
2.1.1.3 Forest Resources by Ownership
The State forest covers 58.1986 million hectares or 45.28%; the collective forest covers 70.3292 million hectares or 54.72%. Among the total area of economic forests, 1.6035 million hectares are State owned, and 14.4953 million hectares or 90.04% fall under the collective ownership. The total area of the bamboo forest is also dominated by collective forests covering 3.5282 million hectares or 93.07%.
As far as the stocking volume is concerned, the total standing stock volume of the State forests amounts to 7,514.0373 million cubic meters or 69.99%, and the collective forests is 3,221.6159 million cubic meters; the stock volume of state forests is 6,705.574 million cubic meters or 73.79%, and the collective forest 2,381.5931 million cubic meters or 26.1% (see Table 2).
Table 2 - Stock Volume by Type of Forest Land Unit: million cubic meters
|
type
|
standing stock volume |
forest stock volume |
||
|
quantity |
% |
quantity |
% |
|
|
State ownership |
7,514.0373 |
69.99 |
6,705.5740 |
73.79 |
|
Collective ownership |
3,221.6159 |
30.01 |
2,381.5931 |
26.21 |
|
Total |
10,735.6530 |
100 |
9.087.1671 |
100 |
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1994.
2.1.1.4 Increment and Consumption of Forest Resources
Comparison of the total increment and consumption of the standing stock volume reveals that the annual average net growth is 419.1235 million cubic meters with a net rate of increment of 3.98%; the annual average net consumption is 319.9237 million cubic meters with a net rate of consumption of 3.04%; and the annual average dead and loss rate is 55.9143 million cubic meters with a rate of 0.53%. The corresponding data for the volume growth and consumption of timber forests are respectively 219.9634 million cubic meters or 3.78%; 199.7943 million cubic meters or 3.43%; and 42.0686 million cubic meters or 0.72%.
2.1.1.5 Forest Category
As far as forest type is concerned, the area and stocking volume of the timber forest are respectively 84.9286 million hectares and 6,743.3869 million cubic meters accounting for 78.18% and 74.2% of the total. The corresponding data for other forest types are respectively: 16.0729 million hectares and 1,777.977 million cubic meters or 14.70% and 19.57% for the protective forest, 4.2886 million hectares and 69.1674 million cubic meters or 3.95% and 0.76% for the fuelwood forest, and 3.3481 million hectares and 496.6358 million cubic meters or 3.08% and 5.47% for the special purpose forest (see Table 3).
With regard to the age class, the young forest covers an area of 41.3331 million hectares or 38.05% of the total with a stocking volume of 1,023.1764 million cubic meters accounting for 11.26%. The corresponding data for other age classes are respectively: 36.1.314, 33.26%, 2,660.342, 29.28% for the middle age forest; 11.061, 10.18%, 1,221.4214, 13.44% for the nearly matured forest, 12.6886, 11.68%, 203.7089, 24.25% for the mature forest; and 7.4221, 6.835, 1 978.5184, 21.77% for the overmatured forest (see Table 4).
Table 3 - Forest Type Statistics by Area and Stocking Volume Unit: million hectares, million cubic meters
|
Forest type |
Area |
% |
Stocking volume |
% |
|
timber forest |
84.9286 |
78.18 |
6,743.3869 |
74.20 |
|
protective forest |
16.0729 |
14.79 |
1,777.9770 |
19.57 |
|
fuelwood forest |
4.2886 |
3.95 |
69.1674 |
0.76 |
|
special purpose forest |
3.3481 |
3.08 |
496.6300 |
5.47 |
|
Total |
108.6382 |
100 |
9,087.1613 |
100 |
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1994.
Table 4 - Age Class Statistics by Area and Stocking Volume Unit: million hectares, million cubic meters
|
Age class |
Area |
% |
Stocking volume |
% |
|
young forest |
41.3331 |
38.05 |
1,023.1764 |
11.26 |
|
middle age forest |
36.1314 |
33.26 |
2,660.3420 |
29.28 |
|
nearly matured forest |
11.0610 |
10.18 |
1,221.4214 |
13.44 |
|
mature forest |
12.6886 |
11.68 |
2,203.7089 |
24.25 |
|
over matured forest |
7.4241 |
6.83 |
1,978.5184 |
21.77 |
|
Total |
108.6382 |
100 |
9,087.1671 |
100 |
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1994.
Table 5 - Area and Stocking Volume of the Broad-leaved and Coniferous Forests, Unit: million hectares, million cubic meters
|
Item |
Area |
% |
Stocking volume |
% |
|
coniferous forest |
55.0326 |
50.66 |
5,112.1593 |
56.26 |
|
broad-leaved forest |
53.6056 |
49.34 |
3,975.0078 |
43.74 |
|
Total |
108.6382 |
100 |
9,087.1671 |
100 |
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1994.
Table 6 - Area and Stocking Volume of the Timber Forest by Age Class, Unit: million hectares, million cubic meters
|
Age class |
Area |
% |
Stocking volume |
% |
|
young forest |
32.4815 |
38.24 |
831.0657 |
12.32 |
|
middle age forest |
30.6148 |
36.05 |
2,212.1848 |
32.81 |
|
nearly matured forest |
8.3449 |
9.83 |
907.6417 |
13.46 |
|
mature forest |
8.4964 |
10.00 |
1,401.3095 |
20.78 |
|
over matured forest |
4.9910 |
5.88 |
1,391.1852 |
20.63 |
|
Total |
84.9286 |
100 |
6,743.3869 |
100 |
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1994.
Table 7 - Area, Stock Volume and Percentage of Each Category of Native Forests, Unit: million hectares, million cubic meters
|
Forest type |
Area |
% native |
Stocking volume |
% native |
|
timber forest |
67.4100 |
79.40 |
6,165.0384 |
91.4 |
|
protective forest |
13.0037 |
80.9 |
1,657.7184 |
93.2 |
|
fuelwood forest |
3.6826 |
85.9 |
65.3986 |
94.6 |
|
special purpose forest |
3.1691 |
94.7 |
487.0321 |
98.1 |
|
Total |
87.2654 |
- |
8,375.1875 |
- |
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1994.
The coniferous and the broad-leaved forests covers 55.0326 million hectares or 50.66% and 53.6056 million hectares or 49.34% with a respective stocking volume of 5,112.1593 million cubic meters or 56.26% and 3,975.0078 million cubic meters or 43.74% (see Table 5).
2.1.1.6 Plantations
The area of established plantations totals 34.2515 million hectares in China accounting for 26.65% of its total forested land area. Of this, forests for timber production, protection, fuelwood and special purposes total 21.3728 million hectares or 62.4% of the total plantation; the economic plantations cover 111.8296 million hectares or 35.54%; the bamboo forest 1.0491 million hectares or 3.06%; and the under established plantations cover 7.1883 million hectares.
2.1.1.7 Harvestible Forest Resources
The harvestible forest resources are further declining in China and inventory results show that both the area and stocking volume of the matured timber forests continue to shrink. In the period between the latest two inventories, its area declined by 709,000 hectares with an annual drop of 271,000 hectares or 1.56%; its stocking volume decreased by 253.3721 million cubic meters with an annual drop of 54.7317 million hectares or 1.41%. Meanwhile, resources of the matured timber forest are unevenly distributed with the majority of stands being in the remote and steep mountainous areas with difficult access. In addition, large areas of such forests grow along the upper reaches of big rivers. In consideration of their important protective roles, exploitation and utilization shall be very difficult.
Table 8 - Area of All Types of Economic Forests, Unit: hectare; %
|
Forest types |
Area |
Percentage |
|
oil production plantation |
6,058,900 |
37.64 |
|
special economic forests |
1,334,000 |
8.29 |
|
fruit trees |
5,296,100 |
32.90 |
|
other economic forests |
3.408,800 |
21.17 |
|
Total |
16,097,800 |
100 |
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1994.
Table 9 - Diameter Class Distribution of Nearly Matured, Mature and Overmatured Forests, Unit: million cubic meters; million trees; %
|
Diameter class
|
Stocking volume |
Number of trees |
||
|
Volume |
% |
No. of trees |
% |
|
|
small diameter (6.0-12.0 cm) |
411.4731 |
11.12 |
104.1802 |
57.43 |
|
medium diameter (14.0-24.0 cm) |
811.5443 |
21.93 |
54.6358 |
30.12 |
|
large diameter (26.0-36.0 cm) |
808.6872 |
2.86 |
15.0235 |
8.28 |
|
extremely large diameter (over 38 cm) |
1,668.4318 |
45.09 |
7.5613 |
4.17 |
|
Total |
3,700.1364 |
100 |
181.4008 |
100 |
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1994.
Table 10 - Forest Resources Distribution by Region, Unit: million hectares; million cubic meters; %
|
Region |
Standing stock volume |
Forest area |
Forest stand stocking volume |
Timber forest stocking volume |
||||
|
Volume |
% |
Area |
% |
Volume |
% |
Volume |
% |
|
|
north-east/Inner Mongolia (4 prov.) |
3,476.4732 |
42.7 |
36.5746 |
28.5 |
3,002.6898 |
33.1 |
2,683.7962 |
39.8 |
|
Sichuan and Yunnan |
222.8439 |
2.7 |
20.9360 |
16.3 |
2,410.5927 |
26.5 |
1,398.7955 |
20.7 |
|
collective forests in 10 southern prov. |
1,826.6227 |
22.4 |
46.6432 |
36.3 |
1,457.6952 |
16.0 |
1,225.9040 |
18.2 |
|
Tibet except areas outside control line |
1,262.0614 |
15.5 |
3.9637 |
3.1 |
1,231.0584 |
13.6 |
878.3316 |
13.0 |
|
other provinces/ municipalities |
1,347.6520 |
16.6 |
20.4103 |
15.9 |
985.1310 |
10.8 |
556.5596 |
8.3 |
|
Total |
8,135.6532 |
100 |
128.5278 |
100 |
9,087.1671 |
100 |
6,743.3869 |
100 |
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1994.
The gap between demand and supply will become increasingly larger. The total social production and market demand projection indicates that, by the year 2000, the total timber demand will be 205 million cubic meters. The average per capita consumption of timber is 0.68 cubic meters in the world, over 1 cubic meter in the United States and the Russian Federation, 6 cubic meters in Sweden, and merely 0.12 cubic meters in China (see Table 11). According to projections, the average per capita timber consumption in China will maintain the current level by the end of this century.
Table 11 - Major Indexes on the Forest Resources in Selected Countries
|
Country |
Land area |
Forest Area |
Volume |
Forest cover |
Population |
Per capita forest |
Per capita volume |
|
China |
9,600 |
133.700 |
11.785 |
13.92 |
1,133.7 |
0.12 |
10.39 |
|
U.S.A. |
9,363 |
226.454 |
20.100 |
32 |
249.2 |
0.84 |
80.66 |
|
Japan |
377 |
23.889 |
2.860 |
67 |
123.5 |
0.20 |
23.16 |
|
Canada |
9,922 |
264.100 |
23.000 |
28 |
26.5 |
9.32 |
867.92 |
|
Sweden |
412.3 |
24.400 |
2.288 |
59 |
8.3 |
2.85 |
275.66 |
|
Finland |
337 |
19.885 |
1.445 |
65 |
5.0 |
4.03 |
289.00 |
|
Norway |
324 |
7.635 |
0.512 |
25 |
4.2 |
2.05 |
121.90 |
|
Brazil |
8,512 |
518.335 |
58.445 |
61 |
150.4 |
3.06 |
388.60 |
|
Indonesia |
1,904 |
118.813 |
8.300 |
65 |
180.5 |
0.78 |
45.98 |
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1994.
There are large areas of plantable forest land in China awaiting for development and utilization. Statistics show that the total afforestable land in China amounts to 63.03 million hectares, of which 14.09 million hectares are suitable for establishment of timber plantations of which 4.84 million hectares are suitable for establishment of fast growing and high yield timber plantations.
By early next century, forest resource development will occur in the following five fields: expansion of forest area and increase in the quantity and quality of the forest resources; improvement of the age structure, forest category and species composition; improvement of the productivity and rate of utilization of the forest land; mitigating in a phased way the conflicts between timber demand and supply and solving the problem of fuel shortage in rural areas to meet the need of the national economic development for timber; so as to establish a multi-strata, multi-functional forest resource system with sound regional layout and high productivity. The planned targets are:
· Wild land and wasteland will be eliminated in 21 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities by 2000, in the whole country at large by 2010;· By 2000, the forest cover in China will increase from 14% in 1994 to 15-16%, timber forest area 99.92 million hectares, and fuelwood forest area 5.69 million hectares; and by 2010, the forest cover will reach about 17%, timber forest area 107.8 million hectares, and fuelwood forest area 7.66 million hectares; and
· By 2000, the total timber production will reach 130.87 million cubic meters.
· Resource Development: 20 large stretches and 5 small patches of timber plantation bases will be established over the whole country, making the total area of newly established and already existing timber forests reach 40.35 million hectares will be established in China, of which 14 stretches covering 15.78 million hectares in 254 counties will be established in southern China and 6 stretches covering 23.6 million hectares in 82 State forestry bureaux and 306 State forest farms in northern China. By 2000, 7.98 million hectares of fast growing and high yield timber plantation will be established in selected localities with good site conditions and easy access. Integration of new plantings with tending of young and middle aged stands, and regeneration with transformation of low yield forests shall be promoted to speed up the development of potential forest resources. As far as species arrangement is concerned, priority will be given to species with short rotation and producing small and medium diameter roundwood while a certain proportion will be the large diameter and valuable species so as to generate short term, mid-term and long term benefits.
· Tending of young and middle aged stands: The objective is to adjust the composition of forest stands, increase forest growth and improve stand quality. It is planned to complete tending of 16.66 million hectares during the Ninth Five-Year Plan period and 30 million hectares between 2000 and 2010.
· Mountain closure: Mountain closure activities will be carried out to increase the forest resources. Special efforts will be made to strengthen project-type mountain closure undertakings, and solve properly the conflicts between mountain closure and local grazing and fuel consumption.
· Tending and Transformation of secondary growth: Efforts will be made to gradually adjust the species composition, enhance management and improve quality so as to achieve the goal of high yield, high quality and high efficiency.
· Development of the bamboo resources: Priority will be given to tending supplemented by planting activities to expand the bamboo resources and increase their production. Between 1996 and 2010, 14 large stretches of oriented bamboo forest bases will be established in 126 counties of which 1.93 million hectares will be either planted or transformed during the Ninth Five-Year Plan period.
2.2.1 Development of Timber Plantations
2.2.2 National Compulsory Tree Planting Campaign
Establishment of fast growing and high yield plantations and development of timber plantations is a strategic approach in China's forestry development. As early as in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Ministry of Forestry put forward the guideline for establishment of timber plantations: that timber plantations should be established in selected bases and managed by forest farms for high timber yield; 240 stretches of timber plantation bases were planned. Due to the interference of the subsequent Great Leap Forward in 1958 and the Cultural Revolution, the plan was not implemented.
In the mid-1970s, it was proposed to establish fast growing and high yield timber plantation bases mainly with Cunninghamia lanceolata in southern China with support of special funds from the State government and, by 1980, 3.2 million hectares had been recorded in statistics. On March 5, 1980, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council promulgated the Directive on Vigorously Carrying out Tree-planting and Afforestation Activities which states that in order to speed up forestry development in China and mitigate as soon as possible shortage in supply of timber and economic forest products, all local authorities shall select favourable sites and suitable tree species for establishment of fast growing and high yield timber plantations, and guarantee monetary and material supply for integrated management. In a bid to obtain experience to guide the national undertaking for establishment of fast growing and high yield plantations, the Ministry of Forestry set up, in succession, joint trial plots with provincial/autonomous region authorities in 111 counties and 106 State forest farms in 20 provinces/autonomous regions. By the end of 1986, over 100,000 hectares of such trial plantations had been established with major species including Cunninghamia lanceolata. Eucalyptus, Populus and Pinus elliottii. Meanwhile, many provinces/autonomous regions started to establish fast growing and high yield plantations and over 1.5 million hectares of such plantations have been established throughout China as per incomplete statistics.
Survey results of a few years in the trial plantations provided practical growth data according to which China has preliminarily worked out criteria for timber yield for major fast growing and high yield species. For instance, the annual average increment is over 10.5 cubic meters per hectare for a 20-year-old Chinese fir stand, 15 cubic meters per hectare for 15-year-old Buxus microphylla, and over 22.5 cubic meters per hectare for 10-year-old Poplar clone 1-72. These indexes, although still low compared to those in the developed countries, are much higher than the growth of the existing plantations and fit in with the current technical and management level in China.
Table 12 - National Statistics on Area of Afforestation by the State*, Unit: 1,000 hectares
|
Year |
State afforestation area |
Year |
State afforestation area |
|
1949-1952 |
138.2 |
1975 |
944.8 |
|
1953 |
27.4 |
1976 |
948.5 |
|
1954 |
65.9 |
1977 |
802.1 |
|
1955 |
113.4 |
1978 |
728.4 |
|
1956 |
249.0 |
1979 |
831.2 |
|
1957 |
1989 |
1980 |
684.4 |
|
1958 |
440.0 |
1981 |
571.3 |
|
1959 |
630.5 |
1982 |
498.7 |
|
1960 |
751.3 |
1983 |
644.9 |
|
1961 |
322.3 |
1984 |
698.3 |
|
1962 |
262.7 |
1985 |
770.6 |
|
1963 |
292.8 |
1986 |
477.6 |
|
1964 |
508.3 |
1993 |
5,932.9 |
|
1965 |
660.7 |
1994 |
6,022.6 |
|
1966 |
781.6 |
1949-1952 |
138.2 |
|
1967 |
633.2 |
1953-1957 |
654.7 |
|
1968 |
519.9 |
1958-1962 |
2,306.8 |
|
1969 |
565.1 |
1963-1865 |
1,461.8 |
|
1970 |
505.4 |
1966-1970 |
3,005.2 |
|
1971 |
718.0 |
1971-1975 |
4,665.9 |
|
1972 |
1,032.3 |
1976-1980 |
3,994.6 |
|
1973 |
1,067.5 |
1981-1985 |
3,250.7 |
|
1974 |
903.3 |
1949-1986 |
20,055.4 |
* The figures in this Table only refer to new area planted except where cumulative totals are given.
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1949-1986, 1993, 1994.
As per statistics, the area of timber plantation established between 1980 and 1987 was 28.92 million hectares accounting for 33.5% of the total plantation area established since 1949, of which 3.83 million hectares were fast growing and high yield timber plantations accounting for 13.2% of the total area of timber plantation in this period. Between 1988 and 1992, 16.17 million hectares of timber plantations were established of which 2.5 million hectares were fast growing and high yield timber plantations making up 15% of the total timber plantations in this period. In recent years, the area of fast growing and high yield timber plantations has been increased by 0.5 million hectares each year and the actual area of established timber plantations was 34.5 million hectares in 1994 in China.
In the light of the emerging issues and problems challenging timber plantation development in the new era, especially the development of fast growing and high yield timber plantations, the Department of Silviculture and Forest Management of the Ministry of Forestry carried out an overall survey and review of the national development of fast growing and high yield plantations in 1994. The findings show that, since the State Council's consent and the State Planning Commission's approval of the plan to establish fast growing and high yield timber plantation bases of 6.7 million hectares, over 3.446 million hectares of such plantations (2.871 million hectares newly planted, 0.161 million hectares improved young stands and 0.414 million hectares regenerated plantations) or 43% of the planed area had been established by year 1994 nation-wide with a stock volume of 45.819 million cubic meters and an annual growth of 10.17 million cubic meters. As far as species is concerned, conifers dominate China's fast growing and high yield timber plantations accounting for 76%, of which Cunninghamia lanceolata makes up 46% and pine species 30%.
In 1994, the national afforestation area for timber plantations totalled 2.504 million hectares making up 41.8% of the State's total afforestation area of that year but 11% less than the timber plantation area established in 1993, of which 0.463 million hectares were fast growing and high yield timber plantations, 8.32% less than that of 1993.
In order to secure the smooth development of timber plantations, the State has utilized the following channels to guarantee financing needed for timber plantation development:
· Investment under the State planning. In recent years, the Ministry of Forestry has allocated RMB 20-30 million yuan to support the joint establishment of fast growing and high yield plantations by the Ministry and provinces. Between 1980-1986, RMB 83 million yuan was invested and 100,000 hectares planted.· Local investment. Some provinces/autonomous regions and counties allocate funds every year from the local finance to establish timber plantations. For instance, in Guangdong Province, the provincial Finance Department has allocated RMB 12.91 million yuan each year in recent years for establishment of plantation bases; in Hubei Province, RMB 13 million yuan (5 million from the provincial Planning Commission and 8 million from the provincial Finance Department) were allocated between 1980-1985 for fast growing and high yield plantations.
· Forestry loans from State banks. In recent years, many provinces and counties have allocated from agricultural loans a certain amount of fund as forestry loans, and the forestry sector pays interests by using the regeneration funds of collective forests and the afforestation subsidies from the State. This practice has been adopted in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Liaoning and Hubei. Guangdong Province releases RMB 10 million yuan of forestry loans each year and Hubei Province has released RMB 20 million yuan of discount forestry loans every year from 1984. Since 1986, the State has decided to release discount loans worth RMB 300 million yuan for forestry projects of which 42% is for establishment of high yield plantations.
· Collection of refundable levies for regeneration funds. In Fujian Province, 20-50% of the log price is deducted by the forestry sector as regeneration fund which will be returned to the payers after regeneration is completed. In Sanming Prefecture, where such practice has proved successful, 80% of the afforestation financing is provided by production units from their log sales. In Chongyi County of Jiangxi Province, RMB 10 yuan per cubic meter is deducted from the log sales as the regeneration fund of the forest owner which is deposited in a special bank account and managed by the county Forestry Station for silvicultural purposes. Misappropriation is forbidden. Since such a system is adopted, about RMB 1.2-1.5 million yuan can be withdrawn every year as silvicultural fund.
· Investment by the timber demanding sectors. Since 1980s, some timber demanding regions or sectors have undertaken joint afforestation activities with rural collectives by means of compensation trade or joint forest farm ventures. In most cases, the timber demanding sector provides investment and techniques while the rural collective contributes labour; the timber thus produced shall supply mainly the investor. This is a mutually beneficial practice which not only can supply timber for the demanding sector, but also helps farmers to vitalize forestry and become rich.
In order to boost State investment, the World Bank Forestry Development Project (Credit 605-CHA) was introduced in 1985. This project aimed to support mainly the 92 State forest farms in Guangdong, Sichuan and Heilongjiang to establish and transform commercial timber plantations, construct forest roads and procure accessory equipment. Implementation of this project not only demonstrates the ability of State forest farms in project implementation but also provides a good opportunity for the Ministry of Forestry to accumulate experience in management of multi-provincial involvement in projects of the International Development Association.
In June, 1988, the Chinese government requested the World Bank to provide financing and cooperation to introduce advanced techniques for establishment of fast growing and high yield timber plantations in 16 provinces/autonomous regions. The scale of afforestation in the first phase of the project is 985,000 hectares with a total investment of RMB 2,357 million yuan of which the World Bank loan is US$ 300 million. In 1989, the State Planning Commission, in its document coded Nongjing (1989) No. 245, approved the Proposal of the Ministry of Forestry Concerning the First Phase of the Project to Establish 6.7 Million Hectares of Fast Growing and High Yield Plantation Bases by Using the World Bank Loan and Domestic Counterpart Funds. In May, 1990, technical negotiations were conducted between the two sides and consensus was reached. On May 29, 1990, the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank approved the on-going China National Afforestation Project (CR. 2145-CHA). In December 1991, the Ministry of Forestry submitted to the World Bank, in accordance with the comments and recommendations of the World Bank experts, the Proposal for the Forest Resources Development and Protection Project (FRDPP). The Ministry of forestry compiled the Feasibility Study of the Forest Resources Development and Protection Project and submitted in February 1994 to the State Planning Commission for approval. The scale of FRDPP is 900,000 hectares with a project duration of 6 years (including 2 years for tending of young stands) and a total investment of RMB 2,900 million yuan of which the World Bank loan is US$ 200 million. It is proven that establishment of fast growing and high yield timber plantations is a practical and strategic measure to build up forest resources, reduce from resource and economic crises, mitigate the mismatch between wood demand and supply, maintain and improve ecosystems and the environment at large.
The overall objective for development of timber plantations in China takes the existing forest regions and key forestry counties as the basis, gives priority to regeneration, transformation and improvement of the existing low quality stands, integrates regeneration with tending of young and middle age stands, adopts approaches of intensive and oriented management. Areas with favourable site conditions are selected to be the fast growing and high yield timber plantations. The overall scale as per planning shall be 40.35 million hectares of timber plantations, of which 27.66 million hectares are fast growing and high yield timber plantations. The new fast growing and high yield timber plantation development programme will be implemented in 3 periods:
· During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period (1996-2000), 3.34 million hectares are planned of which new plantations shall be 1.55 million hectares, cultivation of young and middle age stands 1.13 million hectares, regeneration of logged sites 0.66 million hectares;· Between 2001 and 2010, 6.39 million hectares are planned, of which new fast growing and high yield timber plantations shall be 3.45 million hectares, transformation of the existing forests into fast growing and high yield plantations be 1.06 million hectares, and cultivation of young and middle aged stands for fast growing and high yield plantations be 1.88 million hectares;
· Between 2011-2050, 13.29 million hectares are planned.
As far as regional distribution is concerned, the existing plantations will be considered as the basis for development. Afforestation activities will be carried out in eastern and southern China from the Great and Minor Xing'an mountains to Fujian and Guizhou provinces with priority given to the collective forest regions in southern China where water and sunshine are abundant for the development of fast growing and high yield timber plantations while moderate consideration shall be given to north-east China and the Altay Region in Xinjiang. Class I and II forest land with favourable site conditions and easy access will be selected in the 20 large stretches and 5 small patches of timber bases to adopt focused and intensive management to supply the State, within a short time period, with large volume of timber. By 2000, the overall distribution of the proposed 7.98 million hectares of fast growing and high yield timber plantations will be that, by management unit, 6.67 million hectares or 83.6% shall be established in 292 plantation base counties and 905 State forest farms, and 1.31 million hectares or 16.4% by 82 forest industrial enterprises.
On December 13, 1981, the Fourth Session of the Fifth National People's Congress adopted the Resolution on National Compulsory Tree Planting Campaign which states that "afforestation and territory greening is a holy undertaking for socialist development and benefits of future generations, and also a major strategic measure to harness rivers and mountains, and safeguard and improve the environment. In order to speed up the realization of the great goal of greening our motherland, promote the good Chinese tradition of tree planting and forest loving, and further set up the morality and custom of collectivism and communism, the Session decides to carry out a national compulsory tree planting campaign". It further states that "wherever possible, each and every Chinese citizen, 11 years old and over, excluding the old, weak, sick and disabled, should plant 3-5 trees per year in the light of the specific local conditions, or accomplish equivalent amount of work in seedling production, forest management and protection and other greening activities".
The Fourth Session of the Fifth National People's Congress urged the State Council to formulate, as per the spirit of the Resolution, the Regulations for Implementation of the National compulsory Tree Planting Campaign which states that " every citizen of the People's Republic of China, 11-60 for male and 11-55 for female, except those who have lost ability to work, shall undertake the commitment of compulsory tree planting and all working units should report the actual number of employees to the local greening committee as a basis for allocation of workload," and that " for youngsters between 11 and 17 years old, physical labour shall be arranged nearby in light of their practical conditions". And it further stipulates that "this compulsory labour is confined to the scope under jurisdiction of a given county/city for establishing State and collective forests".
Between 1981-1985, over 5 billion trees were planted under the National Compulsory Tree Planting Campaign. In the urban area, about 100 million trees are planted each year which doubled the annual planting before the National Compulsory Tree Planting Campaign, and the green commons in urban China increased by 50% compared to the period before national compulsory tree planting. The statistics of 324 Chinese cities show that the number of cities with over 20% green cover has increased from 37 prior to compulsory tree planting up to the current 89; the number of urban parks has increased, from the previous 728, by 70 each year; the number of cities with 3-5 square meters of per capita green commons has increased from 45 to 101. In cities, people's bias against grass growing is vanishing and increasingly higher priority is given to lawn development. In Beijing, the total area of lawn increased from 0.39 million square meters in 1979 up to over 6 million square meters in 1986, a rise of 16 times.
In rural China, compulsory tree planting has been carried out along with the process of rural reform in light of specific local conditions. In some localities, farmers are organized to plant trees on the barren mountains and along river banks under State ownership or collective tenure. In most cases, funds are raised from diverse channels, farmers contribute their labour in soil preparation and planting; the planted area is then divided into sections or patches and contracted to farmers for long-term management and protection in a bid to establish all kinds of greening projects such as shelterbelt forests, highway and railway greening, river bank greening, gully or mountain afforestation, establishment of a landscape zone or a farmers' park, etc.. Under the impetus of the National Compulsory Tree Planting Campaign, the national target of tree-planting and grass sowing during the Sixth Five-Year plan period was over-fulfilled. The "four-side" planting develops rapidly in plain agricultural zones and in the regions with little forest. During the Sixth Five-Year Plan period, compared to the Fifth Five-Year Plan period, aerial seeding covered 4 million hectares, a rise of 1.7 times; aerial sowing of grass seeds covered 0.584 million hectares, a rise of 14 times; the area of fruit orchards increased by 26.9% and the production of citrus, apple and pearl increased by 47.7 %.
Great progress was scored in 1994 in the National Compulsory Tree Planting Campaign and the national undertaking of afforestation and greening. The Ministry of Forestry worked out and promulgated the Provisional Regulations on National Inspection and Acceptance Techniques for Afforestation of Plantable Barren Mountains and Wasteland and the Major Indicators and Requirements for Elimination of Plantable Barren Mountains and Wasteland (for trial implementation); the National Greening Committee and the Ministry of Forestry jointly issued the Circular on Furthering Afforestation and Greening of Plantable Barren Mountains and Wasteland which have guided China's afforestation and wasteland elimination on to the right track of standardized management. Since 1990, time equivalent to over 2.2 billion persons each contributing once have participated in the compulsory tree planting activities with 11 billion trees planted. In 1994, time equivalent to 490 million of the same time inputs participated in compulsory tree planting activities with 2.52 billion trees being planted; the urban green commons increased by 36,000 hectares with the per capita share reaching 4.4 square meters.
2.3.1 The Three-North Shelterbelt Development Programme
2.3.2 Shelterbelt Development Programme along the Upper and Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River
2.3.3 The Coastal Shelterbelt Development Programme
2.3.4 Plain Afforestation Programme
2.3.5 Taihang Mountains Afforestation Programme
2.3.6 National Programme to Combat Desertification
2.3.7 Shelterbelt Development Programme for Comprehensive Management of Huaihe River and Taihu Lake Basin Area
2.3.8 Shelterbelt Development Programme in the Pearl River Valley
2.3.9 Integrated Shelterbelt Development Programme in Liaohe River Valley
2.3.10 Shelterbelt Development Programme along the Middle Reaches of the Yellow River
China is one of the countries in the world with fragile ecosystems and environment. Despite of the efforts of many years, the overall adverse trend of environmental deterioration in China has not yet been reversed fundamentally and is not in harmony with the rapidly developing economy. In this connection, the principles of eco-economics and optimal systematic design shall be used to establish an ecological forestry system which is wisely designed, perfectly structured and fully functional so as to provide an ecological shelter for China's industrial and agricultural activities and people's living, and help mitigate the effect of natural disasters.
Since 1978, the Chinese government has been implementing such large scale inter-regional and comprehensive ecological forest programmes as the Three-north Shelterbelt Development Programme, the Yangtze Shelterbelt Development Programme, the Coastal Shelterbelt Development Programme and the Taihang Mountains Afforestation Programme in a bid to increase vegetation cover and improve regional environment with remarkable ecological, social and economic benefits reached. Meanwhile, implementation of these programmes is building up rich experience for the establishment of a wisely designed, perfectly structured and fully functional ecological Shelterbelt system in China around the turn of this century.
During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period (1996-2000), the Chinese government shall continue the implementation of the Shelterbelt Development Programme along the Upper and Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, the Coastal Shelterbelt Development Programme, the Taihang Mountain Afforestation Programme and the Plain Afforestation (Agroforestry) Programme, and start implementation of the third phase of the Three-north Shelterbelt Development Programme, Shelterbelt development along the middle reaches of the Yellow River and in the valleys of the Pearl River, Huaihe and Taihu Lake, and Liaohe River, with an objective to bring under initial control the water and soil erosion of China's major rivers and improve substantially the environment in these regions by the mid-21st Century.
The Three-North Shelterbelt Development Programme encompasses 551 counties/districts/cities of 13 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities in north-west, central north and north-east China covering 4.069 million square kilometres or 42.4% of the country's total land area. This world's largest ecological programme commenced in 1978 and shall be completed by 2050 with a planned programme area of 35.08 million hectares.
By 1994, over 13 million hectares had been planted under the first and second phases of this programme which has protected 11 million hectares of farmland with Shelterbelt networks, rehabilitated 8.93 million hectares of pastureland, and brought under control to a certain extent 30% of the soil and water erosion area in the Loess Plateau reducing the volume of sand/mud flow into the Yellow River by 10%.
During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, efforts will be made to reinforce the achievement scored in the first and second phases of this programme. On the basis of sound protection of the existing forest resources, the third phase will be commenced with priority to be given to 6 provinces/municipalities, namely Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, 5 large stretches (the Kerqin Desert, the Mu Us Desert, the Loess Plateau to the north of Weihe River, the southern part of Luliang Mountain and the Hexi Corridor) and 100 counties. The total afforestation area shall cover 6.18 million hectares.
Between 2001-2010, priority will be given to the control of water and soil erosion in the Loess Plateau. Areas with most serious erosion problems such as gullies in the loess hilly area, the Loess Plateau to the north of Weihe River and in Longdong region and mountain valleys in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces will be selected for establishment of bank protection forests, farmland shelterbelts and water and soil conservation forests. The total afforestation area will be 4.04 million hectares.
The Yangtze River is the largest river in China with a total length of 6,300 kilometres, its drainage area and population account for respectively 18.8% and 33% of the country's total.
In 1989, the Chinese government approved the Master Plan for the First Phase of the Shelterbelt Development Programme along the Upper and Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River which aims to increase the forest area by 6.67 million hectares by the year 2000 and by 20 million hectares in a time span of 30-40 years on the basis of sound protection of the existing forest vegetation.
At present, the programme is in full swing in 271 counties of 12 provinces/autonomous regions with priority given to ten major programme areas such as the Three Gorges Dam area, the middle and lower reaches of Jinsha River and the drainage area of Jialing River. In the last 6 years since 1989 when the programme commenced, 5.46 million hectares have been afforested, of which 1 million hectares were planted in 1994. Water and soil erosion in over 100 counties has been brought under initial control.
During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, 271 counties shall meet the present afforestation criteria and all programme activities for the first phase will be completed. Efforts will also be made to adjust the programme design, complete programme activities in the ten major programme areas and set up programme models and ten central economic forest bases managed primarily by the State and rural collective forest farms. The total afforestation area will be 2.859 million hectares.
Between 2001 and 2010, priority will be given to the establishment of a wisely designed, perfectly structured, fully functional and highly efficient protective Shelterbelt system along the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The total afforestation area will be 6 million hectares.
The Coastal Shelterbelt Development Programme covers 18,000 kilometres of the coastline from the mouth of Yalujiang River in the north to the mouth of Beilun River in the south.
In 1988, the Chinese government made a decision to establish coastal Shelterbelt system in 195 counties/cities/districts of 11 coastal provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities. According to plan, 3.56 million hectares will be planted by the year 2010 so as to raise the forest cover from 24.9% to 39.1%, bring 7.71 million hectares of farmland under the protection of shelterbelt networks, and reduce the volume of soil and water erosion by 50%.
Since the commencement of the programme in 1991, 1.57 million hectares have been planted, of which 324,000 hectares were planted in 1994. By now, the total area of forested land along China's coastline has reached 6.67 million hectares which constitute a framework shelterbelt stretching 15,000 kilometres and bring 6.17 million hectares of farmland under effective protection.
During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, priority will be given to prevention and control of wind and water erosion in the water and soil erosion areas along the coastline by establishing an integrated protective forest system incorporating coastal framework shelterbelts and farmland shelterbelt networks. This system will effectively control water and soil erosion in coastal areas, enhance the capacity to fight against natural calamities, improve functions of ecosystems and the macro environment for investment so as to support the economic development and help raise people's living standards in the coastal areas. The programme scope shall cover 1.002 million hectares.
Between 2001-2010, it is planned to plant 1.067 million hectares and a green shelter along the coastline will take initial shape which will bring under control water and soil erosion along the coast, mitigate the adverse effect of natural calamities such as wind/sandstorm, drought and flood.
In China, there are ten major plains, e.g.: the Northeast Plain, the North China Plain and 918 plain, semi-plain and partial plain counties. The total land area, farmland and population of the plain areas account respectively for 15%, 45% and 50% of the country's total. They are major production bases for grain, cotton and edible oil, etc..
Promotion of plain afforestation and vigorous development of plain forestry is a major strategy to speed up the pace of territory greening and improvement of the ecosystems and environment in the plain areas. It has a far-reaching strategic importance for the advancement of economic development in China's agricultural areas, securing high and stable yield in agriculture and animal husbandry, increasing the potential of agricultural development, adjustment of the layout of domestic timber production, mitigating the conflict between forest protection and local timber and fuelwood demand, promoting adjustment of rural industrial structure, and increasing people's income.
By the end of 1994, the number of counties (cities, districts), prefecture (cities), and provinces (autonomous regions) over the country realizing the goal of plain greening reached 724, 118 and 9 respectively. During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, efforts will be made to promote all the 918 plain, semi-plain and partial plain counties to reach the afforestation criteria set forth by the Ministry of Forestry with 276 counties meeting high level criteria. The total area of farmland under shelterbelt protection nation-wide will hit 43.99 million hectares and the forested land in the plain area reach 26.31 million hectares.
Between 2001 and 2010, 362 counties will reach high level afforestation criteria and efforts will be made to promote the high-efficiency forestry development in plain agricultural regions.
During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, priority will be given to the establishment of headwater conservation forest, water and soil conservation forest in the rocky and hilly areas of the Taihang Mountains, to the appropriate development of economic forests, rehabilitation of forest vegetation and enhancement of the capacity of water and soil conservation. Main activities include: water and soil conservation forests along the upper reaches of Haihe River and tributaries of the Yellow River, water and soil conservation forests in the eastern part of the Taihang Mountains featuring by development of "economic valleys", and the dry-fruit dominating economic forest bases in the western and southeastern part of the Taihang Mountains. The total afforestation area will be 1.36 million hectares. The Programme was launched in 1994, and 358,000 hectares of afforestation was accomplished in the very same year.
Between 2001-2010, it is planned to afforest 1.623 million hectares and control initially water and soil erosion in the programme area and bring about substantial improvement in the regional environment.
The Chinese government attaches great importance to combating desertification and has incorporated it into the national economic and social development plan with complete water/soil conservation and desertification combating research and management organizations established from the Central to local levels. Soon after the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Brazil in 1992, in the spirit of Agenda 21, a framework document for the global sustainable development strategy, China took the lead in the international community in formulation of China's Agenda 21 which incorporates as a major component desertification combating. In 1994, the Chinese government initialled the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. In order to enhance desertification combating endeavours in China, the China National Committee and its Senior Expert Advisory Group to Implement the UN Convention to Combat Desertification was set up and the former National Sand Control Coordinating Group was renamed as China National Coordinating group to Combat Desertification. In January 1995, the China National Action Programme to Implement the UN Convention to Combat Desertification was formulated.
China has gained successful experience in the last 40 years in combating desertification with quite remarkable achievements reached. For instance, dune stabilization and aerial sowing techniques in the arid, semi-arid and sub-humid arid areas, the desertification combating techniques along highways and railways, the supplementary techniques for shelterbelt development in oases, and the integrated control and rehabilitation techniques for secondary salinized soil have been widely extended. By now, about 1 million hectares of windbreak and sand fixation forests have been established and 1.73 million hectares of desert have been controlled and utilized which have brought under control 10% of the wind-eroded and desertified land, helped rehabilitate and protect 44 million hectares of pastureland. There has been an increase of 20% in grass yield and 11 million hectares of wind/sand prone farmland have come under protection of shelterbelt networks with a rise of 10-30% in grain yield. Fuelwood forests have also been greatly promoted and the problem of fuel shortage has been solved for some rural households.
At present, the area of wind-eroded and desertified land is on the increase: in northern China, the annual rate of expansion for wind-eroded and desertified land was about 150,000 hectares during the 1960s and 70s, and 210,000 hectares in the 1980s. In the last 10 years, around 24,000 square kilometres of land have been turned into desertified land due to wind erosion.
Since 1994, the government has organized a multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral task force to carry out the first national survey on desertified and sandy land which encompasses 861 counties/cities/districts in 29 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities from the absolute arid areas to moist regions covering 49.39% of the country's total land area. Status maps on national desertification have been prepared. Furthermore, the government has set up China National Desertification Monitoring Centre and formulated the Technical Plan on the Monitoring Principles of Desertification in China and established monitoring plots in Ningxia. The Plan for the National Programme to Combat Desertification between 1991 and 2000 has been implemented during the process of which 20 priority counties, 9 experimental zones and 22 experimental and demonstration bases have been set up in different types of desertification zones (dominated by north-west, north and north-east of China).
By 2000, advanced biological and engineering techniques will be adopted to harness the wind-eroded and desertified farmland and pastureland. Resources shall be wisely designed and utilized to establish an eco-economic development model integrating cultivation/livestock raising, processing, and sideline/trade. Some 16.05 million hectares of pastureland will be upgraded and 2 million hectares of high standard artificial grassland will be established; about 250,000 hectares of intercropping/rotational cropping among grain, fruits and grass, and 130,000 hectares of medicinal herbs and economic crops will be established; 60,000 hectares of water area be utilized; 230,000 hectares of timber plantation and economic forests be established; 230,000 hectares of deserts and low yield farmland be transformed; a number of entities and enterprises be established to provide employment opportunities for the local people in the programme area.
By 2010, a legalized resource management system and a high quality and sustainable sectoral development and industrial system will be established in the wind-eroded and desertified areas to conduct integrated development of the desertified land for supply of grain, cotton, edible oil, meat, eggs and milk, and for securing healthy progress in environmental and economic development. Efforts will be made to upgrade 34 million hectares of natural pastureland, establish 5 million hectares of high quality artificial pastureland, develop 1 million hectares for intercropping/rotational cropping among forest, fruits and grass, harness and rehabilitate half of the pastureland subject to degradation, desertification and salinization, develop 230,000 hectares to grow various medicinal herbs and economic plants, utilize a water area of 130,000 hectares and transform by means of afforestation 300,000 hectares of low yield farmland.
The programme aims at establishing a multi-forest type, multi-function and multi-benefit shelterbelt system primarily for flood control and it encompasses 208 counties/cities/districts in 7 provinces/municipality. The priority during the Ninth Five-Year Plan period will be establishment of water and soil conservation forests mainly for head water conservation and water and soil conservation in the Dabie Mountain area, low mountains and hilly areas of Tongbai Mountain Range, low mountains and hilly areas of Funiu Mountain Range, hilly areas in Songshan and Huangshan mountains, hilly areas and tableland along the middle and lower reaches of Huaihe River, hilly and rocky mountains along the lower reaches of Huaihe River and low mountains and hilly areas in Tianmu and Yisu mountains; project for wavebreaking shelterbelts along Lixia River; and project for farmland shelterbelts in Taihu Plain and wavebreaks along Taihu dikes. The total area to be afforested is 728,000 hectares.
Between 2001 and 2010, 319,000 hectares are planned to be planted so as to reach the goal of bringing under initial control the water and soil erosion problem through integrated approaches of treatment and promote environmental development into a healthy circle.
The Pearl River Shelterbelt Programme encompassing 177 counties/cities of Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Guangdong provinces/autonomous region aims primarily at increasing the area of forest resources, control of water and soil erosion, mitigating the effect of natural calamities and promoting a healthy biological chain. During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, efforts will be made to harness water and soil erosion in the programme area so as to increase forest land and improve the local environment and further tap the potential of agriculture. Some 578,000 hectares shall be planted. The priority projects include the water and soil conservation and wavebreaking forest project along the northern bank of Hongshui River of the Nanpanjiang River; the head water conservation and water and soil conservation forest project in the northern section of Nanpanjiang River; the bank protection forest project along the southern bank of Nanpanjiang River through Hongshui River to Xunjiang River; and the bank protection and water and soil conservation forest along the Xijiang River.
Between 2001 and 2010, about 622,000 hectares will be planted to raise the forest cover in the programme area up to 56%, bring obvious improvement to the local environment and initiate achievement of the wish for dense forests and bumper harvests.
This programme plans to give priority to erosion control and combating wind and sand damage in the light of the local natural and ecological conditions so as to eradicate fundamentally the adverse impacts of natural calamities. It covers 77 counties/cities/banners in Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Jilin and Liaoning provinces/autonomous region. During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, priority will be given to shelterbelt development primarily for water and soil conservation, head water conservation, and windbreaking and sand fixation, and development of economic and fuelwood forests with moderate expansion of the timber plantations. The total planned area for afforestation is 717,000 hectares. Major projects include: project for establishing water and soil conservation forests along the upper and middle reaches of the Liaohe River; project for establishing head water conservation and water and soil conservation forests along the upper reaches of Xilamulun River; water and soil conservation forest project along the upper reaches of Jiaolai River; project for establishing water and soil conservation forests, windbreaks and sand fixing forests along the upper and middle reaches of the Liu-Rao river system; wavebreaking forests project along the flood prevention dikes of Liaohe River; project for establishing water and soil conservation and head water conservation forests in low mountainous and hilly areas along the upper reaches of Dongliao River; water and soil conservation forests project in the wind and water eroded area of Dongliao River Plain; and headwater conservation forests and timber plantation project in the mountainous area in eastern Liaoning Province.
Between 2001 and 2010, 483,000 hectares will be planted which will bring under control such natural calamities as water and soil erosion, wind and sand damage, promote the steady development of agriculture and mitigate the unbalance between market demand and supply of the forest and subsidiary products.
This programme encompasses 177 counties/cities/banners in Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Henan provinces/autonomous regions and aims at controlling water and soil erosion in the Yellow River Valley, reducing sand and earth content in the Yellow River. It is to bring into maximum play the role of major water storage facilities in the programme area in flood and avalanche control, reduction of sediments as well as in water supply and power generation and safeguarding people's living conditions and high and stable yield in agriculture.
During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, priority shall be given to establishment of headwater conservation forests along the upper reaches of all tributaries, bank and slope protection forests along the main course and its tributaries and on steep mountain slopes; farmland and pastureland shelterbelt networks and water and soil conservation forests on flat land, ridges, earth mounds and flat hilly areas; and timber oriented protection forests and economic forests along fertile and moist river banks. The planned area for afforestation is 1.05 million hectares.
Between 2001 and 2010, about 2.1 million hectares are to be planted to raise the forest cover up to 24.4%, which will bring about remarkable improvement of the environment, protect farmland, decrease the sand and mud flow into rivers and substantially reduce sediments in water conservancy facilities.
2.4.1 Status-quo
2.4.2 Trend of development for forest fire prevention and control
2.4.3 Trend of development for prevention of forest diseases and pests
The Chinese government attaches great importance to forest fire prevention and control, and requests governments at all levels to implement stringently the Regulations on Forest Fire Prevention and Control and relevant local rules and regulations, following the guideline of "prevention first and control". The forest fire prevention target responsibility system is adopted to strengthen fire prevention infrastructure development and crew training, and reinforce fire prevention centring around fire origin management with remarkable achievement score
In recent years, there has been a promising trend of overall decline in the occurrence of forest fires. The control rate of forest fire in 1994 over the country was almost 1.2 times higher than that of 1993, and 1.1 times higher than the average level of the previous 6 years, making a new best historical record.
Prevention of forest pests and diseases has been strengthened with the rate of prevention and control being increased substantially. In the Seventh Five-Year Plan Period, a total of 14.93 million hectares of forest diseases and pests affected land have been brought under control, a rise of 8.9% compared to that in the Sixth Five-Year Plan period. The trend indicates that the controlled area is enlarged year by year. The rate of integrated prevention and control has increased to 40% from 36.7% in the Sixth Five-Year Plan period. The integrated prevention and control projects have achieved initial success. About 156 counties in 21 provinces/municipalities/autonomous regions have been organized to conduct the integrated control activities for various types diseases and pests on 3.7333 million hectares of land with promising results achieved.
Nevertheless, China still faces a major challenge and arduous tasks of forest protection. The present fire prevention infrastructure in China is inadequate to fulfil the task and falls short of the requirements for the establishment of "four networks and two specializations", i.e.: fire risk prediction and forecast network, lockout network, communication network, firebreaks network, personnel specialization and specialization of fire suppression equipment. Fire prevention facilities for virgin forests are rather poor; the facilities for observation, communication, transportation and fire control for collectively owned forests in southern China are inadequate; there are no fire prevention facilities at all for forests in some remote mountainous areas; the comprehensive prevention and control system for forest fires remains fragile.
In China, the problem of forest pests and disease remains extremely serious with increasing types of pests and diseases, expanding affected areas, and shortening of intervals between attacks. According to general survey, there are 8,000 types of forest pests and diseases among which 2,900 are forest diseases with over 200 of them being capable of reaching epidemic scale and over 100 frequently causing disasters of damage. Since 1980, the annual affected forest area has exceeded 6.67 million hectares with the worst year being over 10 million hectares, the loss in annual wood growth amounts to 15 million cubic meters, equivalent to 4% of the annual consumption of forest resources nation-wide, and the financial loss about RMB 2 billion yuan. The area affected by forest pests and diseases in 1994 also reached 7 million hectares.
Among the intended achievements are: a) enhance the overall capacity for forest fire prevention and control, gradually reduce the number of forest fire occurrence and the scale of damage, bring the percentage of affected areas to below one per thousand and try to eliminate tremendous forest fires and severe human casualties all together. Realize eventually the "four networks and two specializations" in all class I, II and III fire danger zones by the end of this century; and (b) establish and improve the organizational and command system for forest fire prevention, formulate and improve rules and systematic measures for fire prevention for class I, II and III fire danger zones, focusing on the following five key projects:
· The Forest Fire Risk Prediction and Forecast Project. Establish a system for the monitoring and forecasting of forest fire dangers, using the national meteorological satellite services; establish a system for the evaluation of fire dangers and a supporting system for fire prevention decision making, utilizing computer database management and geographical information system software as the basis;· The Forest Fire Monitoring and Lockout Project. Establish 10,000 lockout towers or posts nation-wide by the year 2000 to complete the formation of a command system for forest fire prevention and fire fighting;
· The Radio Communication Project for Forest Fire Management. Acquire or replace 18,000 radio transmitters, 80,000 walkie-talkies and 1,280 facsimile machines by the year 2000;
· The Aerial Surveillance Plane Airstrips Project. Complete or Improve the existing ground-guarantee facilities of seventeen airstrips for air surveillance planes;
· The Firebreaks Development Project.
Control the disease and pest-affected areas and damage degree nation-wide by "one decrease (decrease of the frequency of occurrence) and three increases (increase of the coverage of prevention, quarantine and monitoring)'. By the end of this century, complete the preliminary establishment of a nation-wide system of prevention and quarantine stations, monitoring and forecasting network, quarantine inspection network, prevention and control network, and the development of ''one station, three networks and two specializations". A prevention and control system will be established during the Ninth Five-Year Plan period for the major forest regions and the worst affected areas, achieving a 70% coverage of comprehensive prevention and control for these areas.
By the year 2000, complete the initial establishment of a system for prevention, control and supervision of forest pests and diseases in major afforestation areas of national shelterbelt programmes and the worst affected areas of forest pests and diseases which will include the following components:
· Project focusing on prevention and control of diseases and pests affecting poplars across the entire northern part of China;· Project focusing on prevention and control of pine caterpillars affecting forest regions in the north-east and Inner Mongolia, forest farms in the north and north-west of China and in the collectively-owned forest regions in southern China;
· Project focusing on prevention and control of Cryptothelea variegata affecting shelterbelts in the farming areas of central China;
· Project focusing on prevention and control of seriously damaging forest pests and diseases;
· Project focusing on prevention and control of destructive forest rats.
2.5.1 Status-quo
2.5.2 Trend of development for biodiversity conservation
2.5.3 Trend of development for conservation of wetland resources
2.5.4 Trend of development for nature reserves
China is one of the countries in the world which host the most diverse wild fauna and flora species including 32,800 higher plants and 104,500 animal species. As the majority areas in China were not affected by the Quaternary Glacier, about 10,000 ancient, relic and endemic species of 200 genera have been preserved; China is also one of the three major centres of origin for cultivated plants in the world, with a lot of wild related species of cultivated plants.
The natural wetlands in China include marsh, peatland, meadow, salty plateau lake, salinized marsh and coastal wetland, etc., which cover an area of 25 million hectares throughout the country, accounting for 2.6% of China's total land area.
The Chinese government attaches great importance to conservation and utilization of forest biodiversity, wild fauna, flora and wetlands, and has promulgated the Forest Law, the Law of Wildlife Conservation, and acceded to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, CITES and the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitats.
China has made considerable progress in conserving and utilizing forest biodiversity, wild fauna, flora and wetlands. It has set up over 500 nature reserves for conserving forest and wetland ecosystems and wild fauna and flora; compiled Forests in China, Flora Sinica, Fauna Sinica and the Red Data Book of Botany in China; and enhanced the studies on the conservation and breeding techniques of the rare and endangered species of wild fauna and flora. In a bid to rescue and breed rare and endangered plant species, China has set up over 400 ex-situ conservation and regeneration areas and germplasm resource banks, more than 120 botanical gardens and arboreta which bring under protection 18,000 species and 90% of State protected wild plant species have been preserved in the ex-situ conservation process and nearly 1,000 rare and precious plants been protected and bred. By now, artificial breeding of such endemic rare and endangered plant species as Cathaya argyronhylla, Metasequoia glyptostroboides and Davidia involucrata has been successful.
By 1995, there were 799 different type nature reserves in China covering 7.185 million hectares. For conservation of forest and wetland ecosystems and wild fauna and flora, 574 nature reserves covering 61.12 million hectares or 6.37% of the country's total land area has been established of which 71 are national nature reserves covering 10.12 million hectares; 12 reserves had been incorporated into the Man and Biosphere Nature Reserve Network of UNESCO. The forestry sector also manages 751 forest parks with a total area of 6.6 million hectares.
The following is intended (a) complete the baseline inventory of China's forest biodiversity and wild fauna and flora by the year 2000; (b) improve the in-situ and ex-situ conservation networks for the rare and endangered wildlife species for an appropriate layout of the conservation network and a better means of conservation as well by the year 2000; and (c) attach great importance to the wise use of wild fauna and flora resources while strengthening the conservation of forest biodiversity and wild fauna and flora.
By the year 2000, China Wetland Conservation Action Plan will be hammered out and the baseline inventory of China's wetland resources be completed. By the year 2010, China Wetland Conservation Action Plan will be fully implemented which will hold back destruction of wetland resources and ensure the comprehensive conservation and wise use of China's wetland resources.
Eighty new nature reserves of forest ecosystem, wetland ecosystem and wild fauna and flora types will be set up from 1996 to 2000, of which 36 are national nature reserves. Thus, the total number of nature reserves and national nature reserves will reach respectively 600 and 100, with the total area reaching 60.59 million hectares. Another 100 nature reserves will be set up between 2000 and 2010, of which 50 are national nature reserves, bringing the total number of nature reserves and national nature reserves to 750 and 150 respectively, and the total area to 70.68 million hectares. The total number of nature reserves in China will reach 800 by 2050 of which 180 will be national nature reserves. The level of development for the national nature reserves and some provincial nature reserves will meet the criteria set forth by the Ministry of Forestry.
Enhance management and conservation of nature reserves, raise the level of management and conservation. With this serving as a basis, efforts shall be made to use resources in a proper way and enhance the self sustaining ability of nature reserves.
A national nature reserve network, appropriate in size and distribution, complete in grades and types will take shape by 2010.
2.6.1 Production of Major Forest Products
2.6.2 Consumption of Major Forest Products
2.6.3 Import, Export and Trade of Major Forest Products
2.6.1.1 Logs
For decades, the domestic supply of logs in China has consisted of three components, i.e.: logs under planning, logs outside planning, and fuelwood. The government has accurate statistics on logs (some fuelwood included) under the State planning which is officially published each year by the Ministry of Forestry. However, there are no official and accurate statistical data for logs outside State planning and fuelwood; indirect guess work and estimation have to be applied in most cases.
As per the statistics of the Ministry of Forestry, production of logs (some fuelwood included) in China between 1981 and 1994 is given in Table 13:
Table 13 - Timber Production in China Under Planning 1981-1994, Unit: 1,000 cubic meters
|
Year
|
Production |
Year
|
Production |
||
|
Industrial |
Fuelwood |
Industrial |
Fuelwood |
||
|
1981 |
45,430 |
3,990 |
1988 |
57,510 |
4,670 |
|
1982 |
46,510 |
3,990 |
1989 |
50,370 |
7,650 |
|
1983 |
47,790 |
4,530 |
1990 |
51,090 |
4,620 |
|
1984 |
57,290 |
6,560 |
1991 |
52,890 |
5,180 |
|
1985 |
58,330 |
4,900 |
1992 |
56,270 |
5,470 |
|
1986 |
59,620 |
5,400 |
1993 |
58,600 |
5,320 |
|
1987 |
59,540 |
4,540 |
1994 |
60,130 |
6,020 |
Source: Forestry Yearbook of China, 1994
Table 14 - Total and Breakdown of Forest Resource Consumption in China 1988-1994, Unit: 1,000 cubic meters
|
Breakdown
|
1988 |
1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
|||||||
|
consumption |
% |
consumption |
% |
consumption |
% |
consumption |
% |
consumption |
% |
consumption |
% |
consumption |
% |
|
|
Total |
328,496 |
100 |
300,727 |
100 |
297,264 |
100 |
292,661 |
100 |
298,057 |
100 |
296,654 |
100 |
298,292 |
100 |
|
commercial use |
124,895 |
38 |
118,723 |
39.5 |
115,919 |
39 |
119,075 |
40.7 |
127,920 |
42.9 |
128,637 |
43.3 |
131,743 |
44.2 |
|
local consumption |
70,528 |
21.5 |
58,064 |
19.3 |
63,986 |
21.5 |
60,937 |
20.8 |
58,289 |
19.6 |
61,393 |
20.7 |
62,018 |
20.8 |
|
Wood for mushroom cultiva. |
7,970 |
2.4 |
7,433 |
2 5 |
6,529 |
2.2 |
6,434 |
2.2 |
7,820 |
2.6 |
7,674 |
2.6 |
8,161 |
2.7 |
|
fuelwood |
106,815 |
32.5 |
104,670 |
34.8 |
97,101 |
32.7 |
92,186 |
31.5 |
92.071 |
30.9 |
88,403 |
29.8 |
85,936 |
28.8 |
|
loss in disasters |
8,016 |
2.5 |
6,806 | |||||||||||