Plan targets ecology and green growth

China aims to increase the total output value of its forestry and grassland industries to 14 trillion yuan ($2.06 trillion) by 2030, up from 11 trillion yuan during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, as the country seeks to better align ecological protection with green economic growth, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

The target is outlined in the country's forestry and grassland protection and utilization plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), jointly issued by the administration, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The plan aims to promote high-quality development of the forestry and grassland sectors through high-level protection, with a focus on improving ecosystem quality, strengthening ecological security and expanding public benefits from forest and grassland resources, the administration said in a media release.

It also sets goals of increasing the country's forest coverage to 25.8 percent and raising forest stock volume to 22.4 billion cubic meters by 2030.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's forest coverage exceeded 25 percent, while its forest stock volume reached about 21 billion cu m, enabling the country to meet its 2030 nationally determined contribution target ahead of schedule.

China has also maintained growth in both forest area and forest stock volume for more than four decades, while achieving sustained reductions in desertified and sandy land areas, the administration said.

The new plan calls for continued large-scale greening programs while emphasizing that afforestation and ecological restoration should be carried out according to local land and water conditions. It also highlights efforts to improve forest and grassland quality, restore degraded grasslands, protect wetlands and combat desertification, rocky desertification and soil erosion.

A key priority is the continued implementation of the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, China's flagship ecological project to control desertification and sandstorms in the country's northern regions. According to the plan, decisive victories should be achieved in the program's three landmark campaigns by 2030.

The plan also pledges to further develop a protected area system with national parks as the mainstay. China will advance the integration and optimization of protected areas, improve ecological corridors and habitats and establish new national parks in an orderly manner.

To increase the economic contribution of ecological resources, the plan calls for expanding the underforest economy, strengthening the supply of "forest food", improving timber self-sufficiency and developing modern grass-based animal husbandry.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's annual forest food output exceeded 200 million metric tons, making it the country's third-largest food source after grain and vegetables, according to the administration. More than 60 million people were directly employed in the forestry and grassland industries.

The new plan also includes measures to improve forest and grassland fire prevention, pest control, infrastructure in forest and pastoral areas, and international cooperation on ecological civilization.

To support the plan's implementation, nine major projects will be carried out, including the sixth phase of the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, major ecosystem protection and restoration projects, national park development, wildlife and plant conservation, forest quality improvement, fire prevention, pest control, forestry and grassland industry development and infrastructure upgrades.

The administration said authorities will translate the plan into provincial-level forestry and grassland protection and utilization plans, strengthen cross-regional coordination, improve investment mechanisms and assess the effectiveness of ecological protection and restoration.