China to continue adding to forest stock

China is poised to increase its forest stock volume by 1.4 billion cubic meters in the next five years, a sufficient amount to absorb about 2.56 billion cubic meters of carbon dioxide, forestry authorities revealed Thursday.

"China will continue to see steady growth of its forest coverage, from 23.04 percent this year to 24.1 percent by 2025", Liu Dongsheng, deputy head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, said at a news conference. 

As China has upgraded climate commitments to international organization, Liu said afforestation should better perform its role to cope with climate change and increasing forest stock volume is how the country will put in practice.

By 2025, forest stock volume in China is expected to reach 19 billion cubic meters, according to Liu.

The forest stock volume, defined as the total volume of the stems of all living trees per unit area, is often used for forest resource management and planning and as a predictor of carbon-related variables and carbon stocks.

Approximately 2.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide, one-third of the CO2 released from burning fossil fuels, is absorbed by forests every year, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. An increase of 100 million cubic meters of forest stock volume can absorb 183 million tons of carbon dioxide.