According to the recently released Seventh National Forest Inventory (2004-2008), China’s forests cover an area of 195 million hectares, or 20.4% of the total land area. The estimated growing stock is 13,721 million cubic metres. Of the total forest area, natural forest accounts for 120 million ha, (growing stock 11,402 million cu.m); the plantation area is 62 million hectares, (growing stock 196,100 million cu.m).

Compared with the sixth national inventory, the main points of interest are:
* Doubling of the forest area and growing stock The forest area increased by 20.54 million ha. and the forest cover increased from 18.2% to 20.4%, while the forest growing stock increased by 1,123 million cu.m, equal to an average annual net increase of 225 million cu.m.
* Natural forest resource increased significantly There has been a net increase of 3.93 million ha in the natural forest area
* Plantation resources are increasing There has been a net increase of 8.43 million ha in plantation area and the growing stock increased by 447 million cu.m.
* Forest quality improved The average growing stock per hectare has increased by 1.15 cu.m, the annual increment is up 0.3 cu.m/ha, the number of trees per hectare increased by 57, the proportion of mixed forest rose by 9% and overall the structure of forest age distribution and tree species mix has improved.
* Harvests from plantation increased Harvests from plantations rose 12.3% and accounted for 39.4% of the total harvest.
* Proportion of forest managed by individuals rose

These results have been interpreted as showing that China’s forest resources have entered a new and fast developing stage, however, forest protection and management is still problematic in many areas, says the inventory report In general, the increase of forest resources does not equate to the demands of Chinese society, especially in relation to protection and conservation. The latest national inventory began in 2004 and ended in 2008, five years, and more than 20,000 technical personnel were involved.

Forest area to increase
To address climate change, Mr. Zhang Jianlong, Vice Administrator of the SFA told correspondents recently that China will increase its forest area by 40 million ha. by 2020. This will be achieved through implementation of the “Forestry Action Plan to Cope with Climate Change”.

To fulfill the targets set the state will take the following measures:
* further strengthen tree planting Planting around villages and crop fields, as well as along roads and canals will be undertaken.
* Improve forest management The growing stock per hectare in China is well below the world average. The unit growing stock in 60million ha of plantations is only 49 cu.m/ha., this will be improved.
* Strengthen forest protection measures and take strong action against illegal felling and the unauthorized occupation of forest lands.

Expanding plantations
According to available statistics, China has established a total of 6.55 million ha of fast growing and high yielding plantations since 2002. Up to now, a series of timber forest industrial belts have been formed, such as southern industrial belt, central eastern industrial belt, and northeastern and Inner Mongolian industrial belt.

According to the national working conference forest plantation full use of the achievements of collectively owned forests and mobilization of forest farmers will be beneficial. Production needs to be oriented by market requirements and efforts are required to improve the productive capacity of forest lands.

Felling ban
According to information from the forestry department of Heilongjiang Province, a plan for the conservation and economic transition of Da Xinganling and Xiao Xinganling Mountains, the largest state owned forest district in China, has been submitted by Forestry Department of Heilongjiang Province.

This plan will be phased over two years. Eventually harvesting will be completely banned in this area and enrichment planting will be carried out. Also rehabilitation and conservation of wetlands will be implemented. It is forecast that, by the year of 2020, the ecological environment in this area will have been recovered and the forest cover will reach over 70%.