China has announced ambitious plans to green 100 million mu (6.7 million hectares) of land in 2024, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. This initiative is part of the country’s ongoing efforts to enhance ecological conservation and promote sustainable development.
Currently, spring afforestation projects are underway across the nation, tailored to local conditions to maximize their effectiveness. In Xiangcheng City of central China’s Henan Province, the government is set to plant more than 2 million trees along the city’s streets and in its rural villages.
By the end of March, approximately 1 million hectares of new forest had been planted nationwide. Provinces such as Hunan, Hubei, and Guizhou have each completed afforestation of over 133,000 hectares, contributing significantly to the national goal.
Over the past decade, China has made remarkable strides in greening efforts, completing the afforestation of 112 million hectares. The country’s total forest area now stands at 231 million hectares, with a forest coverage rate exceeding 24 percent. Both the forest area and stock volume have increased consistently over the years.
China boasts the world’s largest preserved plantation area at 87.6 million hectares. In the past decade, China’s new plantation area accounted for more than a quarter of the global total, solidifying its position as the fastest-growing country in terms of forest resources.
These efforts highlight China’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its significant role in global ecological conservation.
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China to complete the greening of 6.7 million hectares of land in 2024
cgtn.com