Learning a lesson

The loss of trees caused by the devastating snowstorms in Hubei province early this year once again points to the lack of a long-term view by some local governments and people when planning forests and planting fruit trees.

In the city of Yichang, tangerine trees were introduced from southern China and some even imported from overseas in 2003, and these trees started to yield oranges last year. But a heavy blow was dealt to the villagers when almost all the trees were destroyed by the snowstorms.

Global warming has caused consecutive warm winters for more than a decade in some regions, and has led villagers to believe fruit trees from the warmer climes of the southern provinces would survive in their regions and bring economic benefits.