How good are the Chinese at planting trees?

The reporter learned from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration that the APEC Ministerial Meeting was held recently, and it was announced that the forest area in the Asia-Pacific region increased by 27.9 million hectares from 2007 to 2020. As one of the member economies of APEC, China's forest area increased by 26.5 million hectares during this period, promoting forest restoration and sustainable management development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Maowusu Desert, one of the four major deserts in my country, is now spreading green. Photo courtesy of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration

It is understood that in 2007, the APEC Leaders' Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development adopted at the APEC Leaders' Informal Meeting proposed that the forest area in the Asia-Pacific region will increase by at least 20 million hectares by 2020, which is known as the Sydney Forestry Target.

The relevant person in charge of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration said that China has made great contributions to the realization of Sydney's forestry goals. In order to promote the increase of forest area in the Asia-Pacific region, improve the quality of forest ecosystems, and mitigate climate change, China has improved and perfected forestry and grassland policies and regulations, carried out large-scale land greening actions in a scientific manner, and fully implemented the forest chief system. It has promoted the restoration of forest resources through multiple channels and has become the economy with the largest increase in forest area among the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Organization, which has been widely recognized by the international community.

The scenery of Saihanba Mechanical Forest Farm (taken on August 22, drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mou Yu

At the same time, in order to achieve this goal, my country initiated the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Organization in 2008. As of 2020, the organization has carried out 50 various types of sustainable forest management and restoration projects, researched, demonstrated and promoted best practices in forest restoration and sustainable forest management, and improved the level of sustainable forest management in the Asia-Pacific region. It initiated the establishment of the APEC Forestry Ministerial Meeting and the Greater Central Asia Forestry Ministerial Meeting High-level Dialogue Platform, and established regional forestry education, human resources, science and technology, planning, wildlife protection and other communication and dialogue mechanisms. It has signed partnerships with 11 international organizations and research institutions, and provided professional training for relevant personnel from 26 economies. It has become the most dynamic international forestry organization in the Asia-Pacific region.

The scenery of Saihanba Mechanical Forest Farm (taken on August 23, drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mou Yu

China has the largest area of ​​artificial forests in the world

According to the white paper "China's Comprehensive Well-off Society" published by the State Council Information Office on September 28: The national compulsory tree planting has been carried out for 40 years, with the whole country mobilized, the whole people involved, and the whole society participating. Planting trees and greening the motherland has become a conscious action of the whole society. The area of ​​artificial forests in the country has expanded to 1.19 billion mu , barren land has become an oasis, and the loess plateau has been covered with green. China has become the country with the largest increase in forest resources and the largest area of ​​artificial afforestation in the world . By the end of 2020, the national forest coverage rate reached 23.04% , the comprehensive vegetation coverage of grasslands reached 56.1% , and the wetland protection rate reached more than 50% .

Editor: Zhai Qiaohong

Editor: Zhao Wen

Source: People's Daily Online reporter Yu Lu