(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-12-05 06:59

The saying that as long as we keep the green mountains we will not have to worry about where to get firewood, best explains the policy of our government to protect and develop forest resources.

The concept of the conservation culture proposed by General Secretary Hu Jintao in his report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October illustrates that our understanding of the importance of forests is far beyond the primitive need for firewood. It also best reflects the position of the forest industry in the country's overall development.

The forest resource development plan revealed by officials from the State Forest Administration (SFA) at yesterday's press conference sends the message that the preservation and expansion has been and will be supported by concrete plans.

The fact that an investment as high as $2 billion every year in projects to return arable land back to the forests and grasslands in order to contain the invasion of the desert speaks volumes for what we have done.

The country will have at least 2,300 nature reserves with a total area of 140 million hectares by the end of 2020, according to the SFA's ambitious plan. The number of wetlands will be 600 and 60 percent of natural wetlands will be put under effective preservation by that time.

In fact, the country's forest area has been increasing in the past decade, thanks to our efforts in planting trees. The increase in forest areas was 4.05 million hectares annually during 2000-05, according to the press conference.

In spite of the illegal felling of trees, the awareness of the general public about the preservation of forests and green areas has been considerably raised, thanks to continued publicity through TV programs and newspaper reports.

The great concern the general public has shown about the authenticity of photographs of the South China tiger, a species that is believed to be extinct, taken by a farmer in Shaanxi Province is a typical example of how many Chinese are concerned about ecological issues.

Such awareness is the very basis for the country to realize its plan to preserve and further expand its area of forests and wetlands.

(China Daily 12/05/2007 page10)