China timber utilization to exceed 65% in 2010: official

China's comprehensive timber utilization percentage is expected to exceed 65 percent in 2010 from the current 60 percent, which will save 40 to 50 million steres of timber annually.

China will antisepticize five percent of its annual timber production in 2010, much more than the present one percent but far less than the current international figure of 15 percent, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission told Xinhua.

Chinese forest area per-capita is less than one fourth of the world average, ranking the 134th in the world. China took a series of substantial measures to save and substitute timber from 1980 to 2004, and saved 376 million steres of timber during the period, accounting for one fourth of commercial timber production.

But timber shortage is still a problem for China, said the official, predicting that it will reach 140 to 150 million steres by 2015.

According to the official, China will try to save more timber by developing a highly-efficient timber processing industry, spreading timber protecting techniques, setting up a timber recycling system, and promoting timber substitution.

Source: Xinhua