Defenders of the Green - China's Forest Protection Policy and a Sustainable Future" - February 1996

Defenders of the Green - China's Forest Protection Policy and a Sustainable Future" - February 1996

In response to the rapid increase in deforestation, China has introduced measures to control the total amount of logging by setting a new maximum quota for logging. In particular, excessive deforestation has led to serious environmental problems such as depletion of water sources and soil runoff, forcing the government to strengthen its policies for sustainable forest management. The new measures set a five-year logging limit of 26.651 million cubic meters and require systematic logging within this limit.

The policy applies to both state and private forests, and introduces a mechanism for strict control of logging permits by local governments. In particular, since logging restrictions could have economic consequences for local industries that depend on timber supplies, the government has indicated that it will also promote the development of alternative industries and support for afforestation activities. In China, deforestation due to rapid urban development and expansion of agricultural land has been a longstanding issue, and measures to encourage afforestation have been proposed in the past, but the actual effect has been limited. It will be interesting to see how effective the new restrictions on the total amount of trees planted will be.

In addition, the Chinese government is also looking to revise its forestry laws in order to balance forest protection and economic development. This is expected to include a stronger crackdown on illegal logging of forests and policies to promote sustainable wood use. Environmental groups and related organizations at home and abroad are also interested in how the government will promote the protection of forest resources in the future.

--- (Japanese only)

Related Information

In 1998, the Chinese government reaffirmed the importance of forest protection in the wake of massive flood damage. This led to the initiation of projects aimed at forest protection in 1999, which promoted the banning of logging and reduction of forests. In the same year, policies aimed at forest restoration were also introduced, and efforts were made to return agricultural land on slopes and fragile land to forest and grassland. These policies resulted in the planting of approximately 17 million hectares of forest between 2000 and 2005, equivalent to about 10% of China's total planted forest area.

Through these efforts, China's forest area is gradually recovering, which is expected to have the effect of reducing soil runoff and desertification. However, challenges such as illegal logging and overuse of forest resources still remain, and continued efforts are needed to achieve sustainable forest management.