With vase area, complex natural climate condition, rich plant species, diversified forests, China has evident geological distribution of its forest resources. From the north to the south, main type of forests are the followings: coniferous forest, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, deciduous broad-leaved forest, broad-leaved evergreen forest, seaonal rain forest and rain forests, constituting a unique forest landscape.
China ranked No.5 in the world in terms of forest area and No.6 interms of forest reserves and No.1 in terms of the area of artificial forests. According to the findings of the 6th National Investigation on Forest Resources (1999~2003), China had forest area of 174.9092 million ha, up by 15.9683 ha compared with the findings of the 5th National Investigation on Forest Resources (1994~1998). The forest coverage was 18.21%, up by 1.66 percentage points compared with that of the findings of the 5th National Investigation on Forest Resources. The total reserve of living trees was 13.618 billion m3; forest reserve was 12.456 billion m3. Per capita forest area was 0.132 ha, up by 0.004 ha compared with the findings (0.128 ha) of the 5th National Investigation on Forest Resources. Average annual net forest growth was 497 million m3 and average annual logging amount was 365 million m3.
Plant Diseases and Insect Pests 2006 was the year with more occurrences of plant disease and insect pests in forests than the historical average with 10.97 million ha affected, up by 20% than in 2005. Among them, 8.28 million ha suffered from insect pests, 1.04 million ha plant disease and 1.65 million ha subject to the damage by rats and rabbits. In addition, 300,000 ha forests were subject to hazardous plants.
Forest Fire In 2006, there were 8,170 forest fires across China. Among them, the amount of forest fire alarm, general fire, big fire and very big forest fire was 5467, 2691, 7 and 5 respectively. Total area suffering from forest fires reached 562,300 ha and 408,300 ha forest affected. Forest fires had led to the loss of 10.0197 million m3 of mature forests, 138 million very young trees and other losses equivalent to 53.7495 million yuan. About 240.4948 million yuan occurred for fire fighting. A total of 102 people injured or died due to forest fire 102. Among them, 18 had slight injury, 43 heavy injury and 41 dead.
Measures and Actions
¡¾Development of Six Major Projects in Forestry¡¿In 2006, the six major projects in forestry finished the afforestation (by labour or aeroplanes) of 1.7907 million ha, accounting for 65.89% of the total afforestation area (2.7179 million ha) in China. Another 1.3162 million ha area of mountainous land were closed to facilitate afforestation.
¡¾Project for the Protection of Natural Forest Resources¡¿A total of 951,700 ha various kind of forests for public interests were developed. Among them, 68,200 ha were planted by people, 156,000 ha were planted by plane. 727,500 ha new mountainous area was closed to facilitate afforestation. A total of 98.3772 million ha forests were under management and protection.
¡¾Grain for Green Project¡¿A total of 1.2043 million ha finished the "Grain for green" project (including 89,600 ha in the project for the control of sand & dust sources of Beijing and Tianjin)£¬Among them, 1.0485 million ha of trees were planted by labour, including 268,900 ha from "grain for green" and 779,600 ha new forest in wilderness suitable for afforestation; 155,800 ha of new mountainous area closed to facilitate afforestation. During 1999~2006, 353 million mu across China had finished the "grain for green". Among them, 138 million mu of cropland were returned to forest in 2006, 195 million mu barren hills and wasteland were covered with trees and 20 million mu mountainous areas were closed to facilitate afforestation. The Central Government has invested a total of over 130 billion yuan in this field.
¡¾Control Project on Wind Dust Sources to Beijing and Tianjin¡¿The authority has finished the treatment of 863,300 ha land. Among them, 416,000 ha forests were developed, including 135,900 ha artificial forest, 83,800 ha forest by airplane and with 196,300 ha new mountain area closed to facilitate afforestation. 306,500 ha grassland finished the treatment work. 140,900 ha land of small river basins had completed the comprehensive treatment. A total of 14,000 water conservancy supporting facilities had been constructed. There were 28,500 people had removed due to ecological conservation involving 5,063 households.
¡¾Project on the Development of Sanbei Shelter Forest and Shelter Forests in the Yangtze River Basins¡¿A total of 615,400 ha forest were developed, 343,400 ha of them were artificial forests and 17,300 ha of them developed by air sowing, 254,700 ha additional mountain area were closed to facilitate afforestation. 18,300 ha low-yield and low-efficiency shelter forest finished the improvement.
¡¾Project on the Development of the Fast-growing Commercial Forest Bases in Kay Regions¡¿A total of 13,700 ha fast-growing commercial forest were developed, 9100 ha of them appeared in desolate mountains and waste land and 1100 ha forest in marginal land area. In addition, 19,300 ha forest were improved.
¡¾Project for the Conservation of Wildlife and Development of Nature Reserves¡¿Up to the end of 2006, there were 1,740 nature reserves set up and administrated by forestry departments of China with total area of 121 million ha, accounting for 12.6% national land areas. Among those 1,740 nature reserves, 357 were for the conservation of wildlife, 1,120 for the conservation of forest ecology, 233 for the conservation of wetlands, and 30 for the conservation of wilderness. 27 nature reserves in China have been put into ¡°Inventory of Wetland of International Importance¡± and 18 nature reserves listed as World Natural Heritages.
