Title: “China Surpasses Afforestation Goals and Enhances Ecological Restoration in 2023”
Summary:
In 2023, China has exceeded its afforestation targets, achieving significant ecological milestones by planting trees across 8.33 million hectares and combatting desertification on 190,000 hectares. This success was announced during a national teleconference by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. The progress is partly attributed to the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), which has initiated 22 major projects, contributing to the greening of 18 million mu. Alongside afforestation, China has also launched 96 key ecological restoration projects, established pilot schemes for land greening, and promoted the conservation of rare tree species.
Furthermore, China is enhancing its data management capabilities regarding forestry resources and geographic information to better monitor afforestation and desertification efforts. The country has also made strides in wetland conservation, with the addition of 18 internationally important and 29 national important wetlands in 2023. A total of 153 projects focused on wetland protection, restoration, and compensation have been implemented. In parallel, China has strengthened the protection of ancient and notable trees and improved the management systems to prevent and control harmful organisms, laying the foundation for dynamic and precise conservation practices.
China completed 125 million mu (8.33 million hectares) of afforestation and the improvement on grassland, and reclaimed desertified land and rocky desertification of land that amounted to 28.57 million mu (190 hectares) in 2023, exceeding the country’s afforestation goals, a teleconference on the national forestry and grassland work held by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration revealed on Monday.
Source: China completes 125 mln mu of afforestation and improvement on grassland, reclaims 28.57 mln mu of desertified land – Global Times