Billions to be spent to protect forests

BEIJING - The central government will spend 220 billion yuan ($33 billion) over the next decade to protect China's natural forests.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, said on Wednesday the country will carry out the second phase of the Natural Forest Protection Program between 2011 and 2020.

The target is to increase forest coverage by 5.2 million hectares, wood stock by 1.1 billion cubic meters, and forest carbon sinks by 416 million tons, the State Council decided at an executive meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.