Forestry minister on results of tree-planting drive

Journal Article · Thu Nov 17 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Beijing China Daily; (United States)

OSTI ID:5978404

China afforested more than 5 million hectares of land in the past 10 months -15.5 per cent up on the same period last year -- Forestry Ministry Yang Zhong has told China Daily. Yang said the nationwide tree-planting drive, coupled with the clampdown on indiscriminate felling of trees, had rescued the country from a serious forestry problem. More than 7,000 people were arrested or temporarily detained for breach of forest law and 2,000 cadres dismissed on charges of forest destruction since the beginning of this year, he said. But, he added, forest destruction had not been completely stopped and the ministry had drawn up measures to protect the resources. Most significantly, the powers of the armed police force would be increased. The force consists of nearly 2,000 stations, 187 county security bureaus and a contingent of armed police. In addition, the education drive would be intensified and a law on forestry -- which has been successfully implemented on a trial basis -- would be fully introduced soon. In remote provinces, the minister said, areas afforested by aerial seeding covered nearly 880,000 hectares, more than doubling the figure of the previous year. The end of this year would see a great expansion in afforestation as autumn planting was just beginning in some southern provinces, Yang said. The widespread use of the rural responsibility system had resulted in better care of the newly-planted trees. More than 70 per cent of the seedings had survived this year, he said. Meanwhile, the minister said, a great number of counties and individuals, including army units, would receive awards for their efforts in tree-planting and forest inspection.

• OSTI ID: 5978404
• Journal Information: Beijing China Daily; (United States), Journal Name: Beijing China Daily; (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290400* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
553000 -- Agriculture & Food Technology
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ASIA
CHINA
CULTIVATION
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
FORESTRY
FORESTS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
IMPLEMENTATION
INSPECTION
LAWS
PLANTS
RESOURCES
RURAL AREAS
SEEDS
TREES