Speech by Cao Qingyao, Spokesperson of the State Forestry Administration

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends from the press circle,

Good morning.

I am very pleased to be invited by the Information Office of the State Council to brief you the information on forestry development.

Forestry is an important public benefiting and fundamental undertaking, which bears ecological function and forest product supply. Forestry sector produces material products, spiritual products, and ecological products as well. Ecological products include material products such as timber, pulp and paper, furniture, fruits and flowers, cultural products such as tourism, literature and art, and ecological products like ecological improvement, air purification, water source conserving and water and soil conservation. The shortage of material and cultural products can be solved by trade and communication, and the shortage of timber and forest products can be leveraged by trade. But the other ecological products like clean air, blue sky, purified water and sound environment can only be attained in local areas and cannot be introduced or purchased in other country or other region, which is the special character of forestry.

Since the open and reform policy adopted 20 years ago, the material and spiritual products have been greatly extended. The shortage for daily substance products can be rarely seen, but the shortage for ecological products has become an important factor hindering economic and social sustainable development of the country. This has become a significant distinction between China and developed countries reflecting the living standard of the people and is the key subject of creating a harmonious socialist community that faces us. When it comes to the stage that bio-safety and ecological civilization become the important factor evaluating the strength and developing status of a nation, the ecological products of our country has also become the major concern from home and abroad.

The areas covered by forestry are quite extensive, including afforestation, protection of forest resources, conservation and utilization of wildlife and wetland, combating desertification, timber and forest products supply and eco-tourism. There are several advantages for further development of forestry in the country. Firstly, it was given great attention by the Party central committee, the State Council and has the most extensive participation from the whole nation. Secondly, there is great room for further improvement. The total national forest land is 4.3 billion mu (0.29 billion hectares), which is twice of that in arable land and the current percentage for using the forestland is only 59.77 percent. Thirdly, tremendous progress has been made during the past years. The forest cover was increased from 8.6 percent at the founding of the country to 18.21percent. There are 1.415 billion mu of natural forests under protection. The plantation forest reserve has gone beyond 800 billion mu and the number of nature reserves for forest and wildlife amounts to 1672, accounting for 14.2 percent of the total land area. Natural wetland has totaled 600 billion mu, accounting for 40 percent of the total land.

In the mid of the last century, some sources in the world concerned the supply for food in the country, and even questioned who should cater the Chinese people. Now the fact proves that the 1.8 billion farmlands have solved the problem of food for 1.3 billion people. Therefore, I believe that with such good efforts, the Chinese people has the capability and confidence to accelerate forest reform, strengthen forest development, and have a good use of the 4.3 billion mu of forest land. We will certainly resolve the problem of shortage for ecological products in near future and construct a beautiful landscape and ecologically sound country.

The copies of the information on timber and forest products supply, management on import and export of endangered wild fauna and flora, reform on ownership of forests and the role of forest in constructing new socialist rural community have been distributed to you. To save time, I just want to speak for one sentence for each of the aspects. Firstly, the import and export is the integral part of the international trade, reflecting globalization. Now the total supply and demand in timber market are equally balanced, which are 325.9 million m3 and 325.7 billion m3, respectively. In 2005, the export of timber and forest products was larger than the import value of US$3.064 billion. The Government is capable of dealing with the demand for timber and forest product. Conservation of natural forests is responsible for the bio-safety of the territory and is also great contribution to the sustainable development of world forestry and the ecological improvement and protection in the world. Secondly, the management and conservation of endangered wildlife has entered into the track with sound legislation. China has actively implemented international conventions in the capacity of a responsible country. Thirdly, the ownership of forests is the basis of forest policy. Now there is not clear distinction between the right for using forestland and the ownership of forests. Due to the problems in unclear operational entity, inflexible mechanism and irrational distribution of benefits, we need to take reform policies on forest ownership to enable forest farmers to have access to land, enjoy property rights, and have benefits and obligations. The productivity of forests will be greatly promoted to provide ecological products with fast speed and good quality for the development of a well to do society and socialist harmonious society. Fourthly, forest development is the important measure to achieve sound ecological environment, stable society, strengthened townships and improved revenues for farmers. Forestry is closely related to and plays an important role in developing a new rural community with enhanced productivity, improved living standard, civilization, clean landscape, and democratic administration. Forestry is an important part of constructing new socialist rural community.