According to analysis of the latest survey on forest resources & desertification, soil & water losses and wild animal & plant, China's ecological construction has entered a new phase, said Zhou Shengxian, director of the State Forestry Administration (SFA) at a working conference for heads of forestry administrations on Jan 19.

China has made remarkable achievements in desertification control. Both forest area and forest cumulation have kept on increasing. As the 6th survey on forest resources shows, forest area has seen an increase of 240 million mu on the basis of the previous survey. The forest coverage area has risen from 16.55 percent to 18.21 percent. The area of desertified land has outnumbered that of expansion. Desertified land of 19,000 Sq. kms has been brought under control since 2002. The area of desertified land has been declining in 19 provinces and autonomous regions. The number of species of wild plants and animals has been on rise. Of the animals 55.7 percents are of terrestrial. The number of rare and endangered animals like Chinese Alligator and Ibis has multipled. The number of panda has increased over 40 percent. Of China's 189 species of rare and extremely endangered wild plants, 71 per cent have been stabilized. The area of lands that suffer from water and soil losses has decreased from 3.67 mln Sq. kms to 3.56 mln Sq. kms.

The ecological situation is still fragile, uncertain in China and the ecological construction work is still arduous. The total amount of forest resources is still insufficient. The forest coverage rate is only 61.25 percent of the world average level. Per capita forest area and cumulation only takes 1/4 and 1/6 of the world average. Loss of land designated for forestry is still serious. Land of 10.1 million hectares designated for forestry has been used for other purposes during the past 5 years. The cutting of forest beyond quota has not stopped. The management of forest needs improvement. Number of wild animals and plants under state's key protection is still small. Area of natural wetlands has reduced greatly. Inning has resulted in disappearance of 900 lakes. China still face arduous task in water and soil conservation. More than 1/3 of the Chinese land is suffering from soil and water losses. 27.9 percent of land is desertified. Therefore China's policies on forestry should remain consistent.

By People's Daily Online