Illegal deforestation now comes at higher price

Forestry and grassland departments are cracking down on the destruction of forest resources and illegal deforestation in the name of land remediation, the central government said on Wednesday.

The National Forestry and Grassland Administration said that it will signal that punishment for illegal deforestation is becoming stricter by publishing cases that have been tried.

Among the 10 cases of illegal deforestation and land reclamation released on Wednesday, the most severe punishment was 328,700 yuan ($49,009), and was imposed by Chongqing's Chengkou county on a medical production center that illegally occupied about 17 hectares of forestland. The local judiciary decided not to file a criminal case, leaving imposition of the fine up to the forestry bureau.

The administration said it will cooperate with departments of natural resources, the environment, and public security as well as courts, to maintain pressure on lawbreakers.