Country 'will easily achieve goal' of 23 percent forest coverage

China has seen a steady increase in its forest coverage - expected to reach 23 percent by the end of the year - amid efforts to improve the environment, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Zhang Jianlong, deputy head of the State Forestry Administration, said the goal is a conservative one and will be reached.

"The forest area stands at 208 million hectares and forest coverage is 21.63 percent," Zhang said at a news conference held by the State Council's Information Office. "The quality of forests has been improved.